TAMPA - This morning, Tampa firefighters from Fire Station No. 12 along with some teachers at Egypt Lake Elementary School spread some holiday cheer to a family devastated by a recent apartment fire.
The fire at the Lakeshore Club apartments on Nov. 29 gutted a building and displaced more than 40 people.
Gerardo Perez, 8, and his 10-year-old sister, Yuraisys Diaz, were two of them.
"My money, my books, my TV and a lot of clothes," were destroyed in the fire, Diaz said.
"Toys, books, Playstation games and our beds," Perez said, adding to the list.
Gerardo's teacher, Tracy Gonzalez, said she knew she needed to do something to help.
"I was trying to do as much as I could for him. And he's a sweet boy, sweet family. And I can't even imagine what they thought when they went home," Gonzalez said. "To know that he lost everything. All he had was what he was wearing."
Gonzalez talked to her husband, who is a paramedic, and they worked with the firefighters to raise money and collect gifts for the family. Today, the group took the gifts to the elementary school to surprise the children.
"We're all trying here at Egypt Lake, and the firemen, we're all trying to help you get back on your feet again," said Gonzalez. "We care about you a lot."
In addition to the gifts and money, Gonzalez collected furniture and household items for the family.
The children said this early Christmas means a lot and is something they will always remember.
"When someone has something like that happen to them, I should help them, like they helped me before," Diaz said.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement
Advertisement