Family receives help after home fire

SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida family receives help from the community after losing their home in a fire, just days before Christmas.

Good Samaritans stepped up on Monday to help the Rodriguez family after flames ripped through their home scorching everything in sight, including the kids christmas gifts.

"We lost everything," said Amayra Rodriguez. "We don't have clothes, nothing. We don't have nothing."

Amayra Rodriguez was working when their Southwest Miami-Dade home was consumed by an electrical fire believed to have been started by the family's clothes dryer. Her husband Cubita Rodriguez said he woke up from a nap on Sunday morning when he heard screams from his 13-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter . "I heard my son screaming, 'fire, fire, fire,' I blinked and then everything was gone," said Rodriguez.

He was able to get his children out safe. He then burned his back as he went back inside the home on Southwest 184th Street to save the family dogs, but only four out the five were rescued. One is still missing.

Along with their possessions, the fire also took the family's Christmas. The Rodriguez's had just finished their holiday shopping this weekend. But as quickly as everything went up in smoke, the spirit of christmas delivered help. Gladeview Baptist Church and Christian School held a Christmas Eve drive for the Rodriguez family. Word of their misfortune quickly spread through their close knit Gladeview School community, where the Rodriguez's 13-year-old son attends.

"When I first got it out, my friend posted it on Facebook, she's like, 'Please pray for this family,'" said John Sofia who helped spread the word.

"The kids were all saying, 'Oh mom, we have to help, we have to help.' Because they are friends from class," said Tanya Sofia, who delivered donations.

Many felt the same way. Dozens dropped boxes and bags of clothes, home goods and christmas gifts for the kids. A family friend said the Rodriguez family we're just starting to get ahead in life. Amayra had recently become a nurse and Cubita's personal training business was just taking off.

"It's hard to see them have to start from the ground up, again. That's hard and they are a very nice family, nice people, very hard working people so we're trying to help," said family friend Dinorah Perez-Dieppa.

After receiving the donations on Monday the Rodriguez family said they were grateful for all the generosity. "What you see right now is a lot of people that came to make our day different and I thank my lord for giving me another day like this one."

They still need a lot more donations. The pastor at the Gladeview Baptist Church and School said you can contact the school to find out where you can give and drop of those donations. The church will be holding another drive Wednesday morning at at 12201 SW 26th St.

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