Students pitch in to help fire victim, family
WAKE FOREST, N.C. (WTVD) -- Some Wake County students are rallying to help a classmate after he was burned out of his home last month.
Fire and water destroyed 10-year-old Cade Newman's home Dec. 2 after a grease fire sparked at the Granite Falls Apartments.
"White smoke was just gorging through the kitchen, and the next thing you know the fire just exploded," said Cade's mother, Michele Murell.
His family was left without a place to stay just weeks before Christmas. They moved what was left of their belongings into a nearby hotel.
"I felt pretty sad," recalled the fourth grader.
Cade's teacher, Robb Morrison, broke the news to his classmates at Richland Creek Elementary School.
"My idea was, 'Hey, look at this kid. He's showing so much courage. Let's be like that,' and, of course, some took it a step further," said Morrison.
"I made a whole list of what I could help him with," said classmate Drew Whitfield, who quickly found a way to cheer up his friend. "We got him a little black Christmas tree with little red ornaments on it. It made me feel really happy that I gave them something to help them out."
Classmate Georgia Worley donated some of her toys.
"I thought what's Christmas without getting toys?" said Worley.
Kira Redmond and Kymari Miller were touched by Cade's situation, too.
"On Christmas, I was opening my presents, and I was really excited about what I got, and then I thought about Cade, and I thought well he didn't get any of that. He didn't get to have that joy in the morning," said Redmond.
She and Miller put together their Christmas money, $110 in total, and gave it to Cade's family.
"It made me feel really good because I knew that if my house was burned down I'd want someone to step in and help me," said Miller.
Morrison called it a lesson beyond the classroom. It's one that's teaching Cade and his family a lot about the kindness of others.
"For a child to think outside the box without an adult having to say, 'Oh, we should help out,' I think is so admirable," said Cade's mother.
"They really cared about what happened to us," said Cade.
Cade and his family are now back in their apartment.
