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Chesterfield school reaches out to mother who lost everything in fire

Posted at 6:15 PM, May 11, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-11 18:18:15-04

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- Monday was just like any other day for the Jackson family, who walked out of the door together.  But a phone call from her brother, just a short time later, changed everything.

He told her that her house was on fire.

By the time she reached her house in Richmond, everything inside had been lost, including her beloved Chihuahua.

"I have nothing," said Shirley Jackson, sitting in the Principal's office at J.B. Watkins Elementary in Chesterfield County. Shirley is a custodian at the school, and she's learned that she's a part of what they call the "school family."

Shirley Jackson

Shirley Jackson

"My dog was trapped, she just couldn't get out, that hurt the most,"Jackson said.

The PTA wasted no time in lending a hand, and set up donation bins in the school office and a Paypal site on their web and Facebook pages."

"Our responsibility is to our Watkins family and Shirley is a member of our Watkins family," said PTA President Kristen Beazley.

The school principal described Shirley as always smiling and friendly.

"It just amazes me how the graciousness and heart-felt community that's here when anybody has fallen," said Kimberly Cousins, who was thrilled to see the school and PTA spring into action.

Cousins said that even though Jackson has renters insurance and is getting help from the Red Cross, their help will close the gap. "We also know those resources are limited, so we're here to kind of close the gap on that and do what we can to help her in ways she probably doesn't even know about yet".

Fire destroyed her home.

Fire destroyed her home.

"We also know those resources are limited, so we're here to kind of close the gap on that and do what we can to help her in ways she probably doesn't even know about yet," she said.

And parents like Beazley are using this as a teachable moment. "It's an opportunity to show our children how we can help others and support our school and support our school family".

"It's an opportunity to show our children how we can help others and support our school and support our school family," she said.

"I never had anybody go that far for me," Jackson said.

Right now Jackson and her children have moved in with her mother until she can get back on her feet.

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