KILLEEN, Texas — After a fire transformed Tanisha Hill's home into rubble Sunday afternoon, she and her young daughter were left with nothing but their pets and their lives.
The two were given $250 from the Red Cross, but that soon ran out as they were living in a hotel.
They weren't sure where they would be sleeping when they could no longer afford their hotel room Saturday, but the Killeen community stepped in.
After their story aired on Channel 6 Friday, donations began flooding in.
By Saturday, a group of people paid for Hill and her daughter to stay at the hotel for another week. All day long, community members stopped by their room to bring money, food, clothes, pet supplies, notes of encouragement and much more.
"They don't know us and I know it's the holidays and money is tight, but people actually care in this world and they helped us," Hill said.
"You're really helping me. I have somewhere to lay still and things to eat. It's really amazing," said Hill's daughter Taneicia.
The pair said they hope to be able to stay in the room through Dec. 5 and even though the holidays will look different, someone even helped make sure they will be able to experience the Christmas spirit.
"She's donating a Christmas tree to us today so we'll at least have a Christmas tree on Christmas," Hill said. "It doesn't matter if we have gifts or not because our life is the big gift. Still being alive after all this."
One of the people who helped pay for the family's hotel room for another week released a statement to Channel 6 saying in part:
"We can no longer sit on the sidelines and watch people suffer. These ladies did not ask for this to happen in their lives. It's time to stand up and take the hand of those who've fallen and help them to their feet," said donor Steph Mendez.
Donations to help Hill can be made to her GoFundMe campaign. Anyone looking to donate specific goods can contact Hill at 312-415-5193 or 312-520-8671 to find out what the two need.
They are currently staying at the La Quinta Inn on Fort Hood Street in Killeen.
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