East Charlotte Fire Victim Finds Missing Cat Nearly Two Days Later

CHARLOTTE, NC – “I went back and got him and he.. he came out,” explains Renée Mack.

A happy moment amid so much loss.

Mack returned to the Woodscape Apartments Tuesday and found her cat still alive, nearly two days later.

“I mean, it was so intense, I didn’t have time to grab him nor nothing. I just.. I had to go,” Mack says.

Mack along with nearly 80 others are staying at an American Red Cross shelter at Albemarle Road Elementary.

40 apartments were destroyed after the three-alarm fire early Monday morning at the complex on Farm Pond Lane.

Firefighters say it was intentionally set.

“My heart just felt like it was going to explode, I said I’ve got to do something,” says volunteer Wanda Hartis.

Hartis is helping organize donations at New Hope Baptist Church on Idlewild Road.

There, families affected can pick up clothing and other essential supplies.

Hartis says some people she’s seen have lost everything.

“Everything. We had them coming in with no shoes.. some with injuries, their feet burnt,” Hartis says.

Volunteers say the overwhelming response from the community has been humbling.

So far more than 300 bags of clothes have been donated.

Donations to help the families can be made to the American Red Cross.

You can also drop off clothes and other supplies at New Hope Baptist Church on Idlewild Road Wednesday between 10:00am and 6:00pm.