Just three weeks after his home was engulfed in flames, an Atlanta officer and his family received an outpouring of gifts from co-workers and a local foundation.
The Gold Shield Foundation donated bikes and other gifts to Atlanta police Officer Demetrius Campbell and his after they were displaced in the 771 Lindbergh apartment fires on Dec. 3.
Campbell’s family was just one of dozens who lost their belongings. Twenty-six units were damaged, Atlanta fire officials said. All residents escaped with no injuries.
“I had no idea how Christmas was going to go,” he told Channel 2 Action News, “but these last couple of weeks, I mean, turns out it's going to be OK. It's going to be great.”
Campbell was at a Christmas parade when the fire happened, according to the news station. The last minute plans kept him and his children safe.
But Campbell said the tragedy hit his 4-year-old daughter hard.
“She hasn’t fully grasped the concept of not being able to get her things back,” he said.
Campbell had been focused on his neighbors who’d also lost belongings, but his fellow officers didn’t hesitate to help when he needed assistance.
"He came here as a rookie,” Atlanta police Maj. Van Hobbs told Channel 2. “I've been here with him since he got here and when one of my officers goes through a tragedy like that I think of it as my family as well."
A GoFundMe account was also created so Campbell and his family could recover their items. More than $12,000 was raised exceeding the original $10,000 goal.
Campbell told Channel 2 he was humbled by the support: "This whole experience really let me know that at any moment you could be the one needing help instead of the one giving help."
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