Kindness helps family rebuild from ashes (+video)

Shelly Fitness (left), St Michael's Catholic School principal, with donated items to help Waiora Hudson, 8, Whetu Hudson, 10, and mother Michelle Edwards. Photo / Ben Fraser

Help is pouring in for a Rotorua family who lost all their belongings in a house fire.

Their Clayton Rd home was gutted when a fire caused by an electric blanket tore through it on Monday morning.

Michelle Edwards and her children, aged 14, 12, 10 and 8, lost all their possessions.

But household furniture, clothes and money were among many items dropped off to St Michael's Catholic School, where two of the children attend.

Principal Shelly Fitness said the school had started the collection on Monday.

"We're a very tight-knit school community and people here were distressed when they heard the news, they really took it personally. They are a wonderful family and are always helping out here," Miss Fitness said.

"We've done two loads delivered to them [yesterday] and they are so grateful, they literally had nothing. The generosity has just been overwhelming, she was just overwhelmed, just the amount of people who have given is amazing."

John Paul College will also host a mufti day today to raise money for the family as two of the older children attend the school. Another act of kindness has been shown by 82-year-old local Brian Devery, who has recently moved to the Cantabria home and donated his household items which included beds, linen, couches, pots and pans.

We're a very tight-knit school community and people here were distressed when they heard the news, they really took it personally. They are a wonderful family and are always helping out here,

St Michael's Catholic School principal Shelley Fitness

Ms Edwards collected the donations yesterday and told the Rotorua Daily Post that people had been quick to offer help.

"It feels really overwhelming, the generosity from our community and the schools, and they were very, very quick to respond, because I didn't say anything. When you come to the school you have a bit of cry, the emotion of it, so thanks isn't enough, I think."