BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. – A single mother of three in Bedford County is picking up the pieces after a fire destroyed her home.
Amanda Worley came home from work last Wednesday to find her house on Mill Iron Road in Goodview in flames.
"You walk around and you're like, this was my house. Now there's nothing," Worley said.
Her main concern was her 16-year-old son.
"As a mother, my biggest fear was something to happen to him while he was home alone," Worley said.
He made it out safely. Her two other children were gone at the time.
"That's why everything, when I say everything of theirs is just gone. You could see clothes hanging down from the ceiling and everything… and right there where the big void is in the house, that was the kitchen," Worley said.
That's where crews say the fire started, though they're not exactly sure how.
After the fire, a firefighter came through to try to save as many personal items as he could but the fire was so hot, even some of the pictures melted together.
Among the ashes, there are scattered memories like old yearbooks and stuffed animals.
“I never thought that I would wake up one day with a house and then the next day not have anything. Especially when you've worked so hard for everything that you have," Worley said.
Now the single mom is trying to figure out how to move forward.
"I have to work because I still have kids I have to feed," Worley said.
The community is stepping in to help, offering money, shelter, and clothes.
"It makes me actually realize that there are still people that have a good heart and that do care about other people," Worley said.
Amanda says the outpouring of support is teaching her a lesson despite the tragedy.
"I’ve never really been in a position to help anybody out so I think that that's my one takeaway that I want to be able to help other people," Worley said.
A GoFundMe has been created to help Amanda and her family. It's raised nearly $1,400 in five days. Click here to find out how you can help.