Ames community members help relocate family who lost everything in blaze
On Sunday night, a fire erupted in the Elliott's family home in Ames. None of the family members were home at the time, but their six pets perished in the fire.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
"Flames were just coming out all over. There was nothing we could do," Michelle Elliot said. "Given that the pets didn't even make it out, we're sure that if somebody was home, the likelihood of them being able to get out would have been slim to none."
Family friends and community members are working to help the Elliotts get back on their feet.
Kathleen Smith, a family friend, has taken to social media to ask for donations for the family, and complete strangers are doing what they can to help. She has been collecting supplies to help them on her Facebook.
"It's amazing. I've probably broke down and cried more times for all the support," Smith said.
Someone has even offered the family a temporary home to stay in for free while they work to rebuild.
Elliott says she is in awe of the kindness of her community.
"I've cried so much because it's overwhelming," Michelle Elliott said.
Piece by piece, Michelle Elliott hopes to reconstruct the life she and her family had before the fire.
It may not be easy, but she wants to bring normalcy back to her kids' lives as fast as she can.
"I just appreciate everything and somehow we're going to have to figure out a way to rebuild. My kids need a home," Michelle Elliott said.
If you want to help the family, you can do so by donating beds, home furniture and kitchen items or by donating to a GoFundMe fundraiser set up for them.