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While this week was like nothing Schwantz has experienced, she said she did not cry until last Friday, six days after the fire."Friday was the most emotional for me," she said.

"I hadn't cried until then, until I realized what people were doing for me." On Friday, Wal-Mart held a fund-raiser and employees bought food to sell and both employees and customers donated money to help support Schwantz.

Doucey said the event raised close to $500.

She added that inside, the store has a list of items Schwantz needs and already many associates have brought goods in.

There is also a fire fund set up at Amcore Bank in Portage so people can donate money to help support Schwantz's financial needs.Schwantz, who also works in the Nursing Home Unit at Divine Savior Healthcare, said that her co-workers there have also been incredibly supportive.

Schwantz is staying with her youngest son at his home on West Wisconsin Street in Portage.

She said she is thrilled to have two pairs of shoes, and with all her notes cluttered all over the place, she said one thing she could use is a purse.

She said she hopes to rent a small camper to put on the property so she can keep her dogs and cats wit...