A 21-year-old single mother who rescued her three young children from a burning house has received an "avalanche" of donations, after her aunt made a simple Facebook post asking for the community's help.
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Natalie Brown has taken three and a half carloads full of about 30 boxes of toys, DVDs, books and other bits and bobs, and 30 to 50 bags of clothes, to her niece, Taylor Burnie.
Ms Burnie's house was destroyed by fire on Monday, and police are treating the blaze as deliberately lit.
Ms Brown said that seeing all the donations, mostly from complete strangers, was the first time she had seen her niece smile since the fire.
"It's unbelievable, it's ... incredibly amazing," she said.
"I've met children donating their own toys.
"Thank you just doesn't cover it."
She said Ms Burnie was still in shock, and worried about her children, aged one, three, and five.
The four of them were in the house alone when the fire started about 5.30pm, after four rocks had been thrown through their windows between 12.45pm and 5pm that day.
She saw smoke and flames in the living room, and was able to get the children out of the house before it was destroyed.
Ms Brown said that one of the boys had been repeatedly vomiting after the fire, presumably from the shock and trauma of the terrifying event.
"It's not the first time I've heard of deliberate arson in Launceston by any means, but not with children in the house," she said.
"How do adults even handle it, let alone kids?
However, she said that the family was overwhelmed with gratitude from the community support, after such a horrific time.
While the house was insured, Ms Burnie did not have contents insurance, and is completely rebuilding her life from scratch.
"There aren't enough words in the English language to saw thank you," Ms Brown said.
The family is still in need of towels, linen, pillows, cutlery, utensils, pots and pans and cookware, crockery, small kitchen appliances, blankets, flannels, and tea towels.
For more information about donating, please email frances.vinall@fairfaxmedia.com.au. Anyone with information about the crime should contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
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Frances Vinall
Frances Vinall is a journalist at The Examiner, Launceston. Contact her at frances.vinall@examiner.com.au
Frances Vinall is a journalist at The Examiner, Launceston. Contact her at frances.vinall@examiner.com.au
