WRALSportsFan
Community Pitches in to Help Families Affected by N. Raleigh Fire
Feb 24, 2007
Raleigh, N.C. — Wind blew a massive fire through a North Raleigh subdivision, leaving 27 homes destroyed and 11 others damaged. Now, the community is filling a warehouse with support.
Just off Capital Boulevard in North Raleigh, dozens of families were piecing together what’s left of their belongings on Saturday. Black ash was everywhere, and the neighborhood looked like a fiery tornado had swept through the streets.
Charity Volkening moved into her first home four months ago.
“Thursday morning, I was bragging about my new townhome; how much I loved it and what a delight it was to be here,” Volkening said.
There was plenty of damage found at her new residence, but it’s still standing.
“Compared to my across-the-street neighbor who's standing in ashes, it's better,” Volkening said. “But people in this building we have a lot of things to deal with.”
Volkening will stay with a friend as she tries to figure out what's next, let alone what she'll wear. She managed to recover three outfits from her home. But she said she knows some of her neighbors didn't even get that much from their homes.
There were some small victories, even for the people spending the weekend digging through the ashes of their home. One homeowner found a necklace in perfect shape inside its box.
There was also hope Crossroads Fellowship Church on Millbrook Road, where supplies like clothes were coming in by the car loads.
“We woke up to a routine and predictable Saturday morning and after watching the news, it became obvious that a lot of people are not waking up to a predictable Saturday,” said good Samaritan Anne Elsea.
With bag after bag, cart after cart, and table after table, supplies kept coming. Quick with generosity, dozens of people touched by the tragedy turned a regular Saturday into a remarkable one.
Crossroads Fellowship Church will take donations again on Monday from 9 a.m. to noon. They're also offering a dinner for the families of the fire at 6 p.m. Monday night, where they will give them donated goods.
- Reporter: John Bachman
- Photographer: Bobbie Eng
- Web Editor: Dana Franks
Copyright 2012 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Most Recent Comments
Um...they're homeless.
Where are they going to put all those bags of clothes?
Want to help? Offer them your time, car rides, or a place to stay. Just my opinion.
wildwoody2004 did you enjoy your little laugh??
From someone who has experienced the loss of a home and all I owned due to fire. It is the worst of times, the good is that you will truly experience the goodness of others. The first thing to do is to allow your self to greive. Healing will come. Keeping you all in my prayers as you begin to recover.
as i looked at the side show pictures of these town houses its really hard for me to belive with all the un grass lawnsa ciggeratte started this fire
must have been a super joint
lol
I just moved in an apartment approximately two miles from this location a couple of days before the fires. I need to stop trying to get my place in order and take some things over to those who have lost it all. I thank God, I know it could have been my family and I'm so greatful that no lives were lost.
Rank: Towel Boy 
