Elderly Detroiter getting new home after house firebombed
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By Robin Schwartz, Fox 2 News -
Thelma Taylor (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com)
DETROIT (WJBK) -
78-year-old Thelma Taylor is a proud homeowner again. A lot has changed since late April when her old house on Birwood was firebombed. Police believe whoever did it got the wrong house. Taylor and her dog, Mercedes, narrowly escaped and needed a new place to live.
"What was so important to all of us who are helping her, including Thelma, was to pick a neighborhood that was safer and clean and had occupants in every house," said Bonnie Fishman.
She coordinated the effort to purchase a foreclosed home after generous donors contributed $25,000 to a fund setup through the non-profit group Summer in the City. Volunteers from the group will repair and help renovate the house.
Taylor didn't have homeowner's insurance and her future was uncertain, but not anymore.
"I'm happy, happy, happy. I'm ecstatic," she said. "I didn't know that anybody cared that much for me. It's beautiful."
"She keeps saying 'I didn't deserve this' and of course she did. She's the most amazing woman I have ever met," Fishman said.
Taylor has spent her whole life helping others cooking and cleaning for local families, volunteering, feeding the homeless and organizing clothing drives for those in need. This time, people came forward just for her.
Whoever is responsible for the firebombing on Birwood is still out there. The family says no one was ever arrested in the case.
However, out of the ashes came the spirit of giving. The house should be ready for Taylor to move in by mid-July.
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Thelma Taylor (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com)
