[Tn-talk] A former TSB student

[Shara Winton]

Hello All,
A good friend of mine  who lives in East TN has had a terrible thing happen  this weekend. If anyone can help in any way, I know  it would be greatly appreciated. Kathy is a former student of TSB, so I am sure many of you know her. Her name used to be Kathy Talent. Her husband is out of the country right now and is not able to come back at this time.  If you have any words of encouragement for her I can pass them to her or you can contact the Red Cross in her area, the number is listed in the below report.

Shara Winton
SONU WASU
6 News Reporter

MADISONVILLE (WATE) -- A Monroe County woman and her five children are homeless Sunday after their home burned down in a fire.

The fire happened on Cherokee Circle in Madisonville.

Kathy Mendiola, who is legally blind, was folding clothes in her bedroom while, her children watched TV in another room when the smoke alarms went off.

Mendiola says she smelled smoke coming from one of the children's bedrooms and tried to beat out the flames with a towel.

She says the flames were spreading fast, so she grabbed her children and ran out the door. Then she realized, her three-year-old son, Jojo, was missing.

She then ran back into the house to look for him. She says she heard the little boy whimpering in the closet.

"What gave me strength was I stopped and I prayed," Mendiola said. "I was really frantic and really screaming and I just prayed and asked for strength from
my Savior, and he gave it to me. I just got calm and that's the honest to God's truth."

The American Red Cross has put the family up in a motel for now. Red Cross volunteer Priscilla Shutt says the family is desperately in need of donations.

"My heart is broken," Shutt said. "I'd just like to take them into my home and give them everything that I could."

Smoke damage destroyed most of their possessions.

Four-year-old Sara Mendiola told 6 News she lost all her toys. "I'm sad. My mother's sad too."

Despite the loss of their home and property, the family is grateful they still have each other. Mendiola says she knows the most important things are still
with her.

"I have my children and we're all alive and we can build from that you know. When you're alive you have hope."

Red Cross volunteers say the family needs furniture, clothes and temporary housing.

The children range in age from 3-16. Mendiola is also in need of clothes.

To get more information on how you can help this family you can contact the Red Cross office in Monroe County. The phone number is (423) 337-9011.
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Hello All,
A good friend of mine  who lives in East TN has had a terrible thing happen  this weekend. If anyone can help in any way, I know  it would be greatly appreciated. Kathy is a former student of TSB, so I am sure many of you know her. Her name used to be Kathy Talent. Her husband is out of the country right now and is not able to come back at this time.  If you have any words of encouragement for her I can pass them to her or you can contact the Red Cross in her area, the number is listed in the below report.
 
Shara Winton
SONU WASU
6 News Reporter
 
MADISONVILLE (WATE) -- A Monroe County woman and her five children are homeless Sunday after their home burned down in a fire.
 
The fire happened on Cherokee Circle in Madisonville.
 
Kathy Mendiola, who is legally blind, was folding clothes in her bedroom while, her children watched TV in another room when the smoke alarms went off.
 
Mendiola says she smelled smoke coming from one of the children's bedrooms and tried to beat out the flames with a towel.
 
She says the flames were spreading fast, so she grabbed her children and ran out the door. Then she realized, her three-year-old son, Jojo, was missing.
 
She then ran back into the house to look for him. She says she heard the little boy whimpering in the closet.
 
"What gave me strength was I stopped and I prayed," Mendiola said. "I was really frantic and really screaming and I just prayed and asked for strength from
my Savior, and he gave it to me. I just got calm and that's the honest to God's truth."
 
The American Red Cross has put the family up in a motel for now. Red Cross volunteer Priscilla Shutt says the family is desperately in need of donations.
 
"My heart is broken," Shutt said. "I'd just like to take them into my home and give them everything that I could."
 
Smoke damage destroyed most of their possessions.
 
Four-year-old Sara Mendiola told 6 News she lost all her toys. "I'm sad. My mother's sad too."
 
Despite the loss of their home and property, the family is grateful they still have each other. Mendiola says she knows the most important things are still
with her.
 
"I have my children and we're all alive and we can build from that you know. When you're alive you have hope."
 
Red Cross volunteers say the family needs furniture, clothes and temporary housing.
 
The children range in age from 3-16. Mendiola is also in need of clothes.
 
To get more information on how you can help this family you can contact the Red Cross office in Monroe County. The phone number is (423) 337-9011.