Support continues to pour in for displaced fire victims
Updated: 01/02/2013 05:04 PM
By: LeAnn Wallace
Support continues to pour in for the families displaced by a massive apartment fire in Northwest Austin just days before Christmas.
"That's all I thought for a week and a half, I just want to go home, I want to go home," fire victim Crystal Ames said.
But for the more than 100 people left homeless by the fire at the International Residence Apartments in Northwest Austin, going home wasn't an option.
Thirteen families with children who attend Forest North Elementary School lost everything and several others were displaced because of smoke damage.
The school's lunchroom and gym have been transformed into drop-off sites for donations.
"I don't know where these people came from, but they came by car loads," Monti MacMillan, a teacher at Forest North, said.
Clothes, food, household items, even cash, have flooded the school as the community rallied to help out .
Crystal Ames and her family are now ready to move back in—and hopefully move on.
"That's what I'm doing here, trying to get clothes for her, because she doesn't have anything, lost everything," Ames said "I'm just glad that that whole ordeal is just done."
And as kids head back to school on Monday...teachers say they have a little something for them as well.
"We have lots of hugs ready for them,” MacMillan said. “We’re anxious to see them."
Forest North Elementary School will be open again on Thursday for displaced fire victims looking for help.
The items that aren't taken will be distributed to various charities and shelters throughout the community.
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