From victim to volunteer.
Rita Wayne was one of many who lost their home in the Erskine Fire. She lived in the heavily hit area of South Lake and said she was shown picture of where her home used to be -- and now there's nothing left.
"The garage is gone, the house is gone, the sheds are gone," said Wayne.
Wayne said for two days she sat at a friends house and cried almost all day and all night, but on Tuesday she said she was tired of it and decided to go help out at the Elks Lodge in Wofford Heights. The lodge opened their door for victims to pick up thinks like clothes, hygiene kits, food and water after the Red Cross became overwhelmed with donations.
“I thought if I came down here today I’d be busy and I wouldn’t be thinking about stuff," said Wayne.
Tuesday she took off the victim name tag and replaced it with one that read "volunteer."
She spent the day folding clothes and separating them in to piles. Choosing to laugh instead on cry.
Wayne also needed a few things to get by, taking a blanket and a few pillows before getting back to work. The day, somewhat therapeutic as she and other victims swapped stories of how they heard about the fire and where they went.
Wayne giggled and smiled throughout the day and said this was the best way for her to move forward.
“That’s what God delt me so I’m going to keep on going and just do what I have to do to live now. That’s my past life, now I’ve got the new one," said Wayne.
During the day Tuesday. Wayne said she was ready and anxious to see her home for herself and see if there was anything worth salvaging.
