BYRAM, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
A community comes together to help rebuild the life a Byram police officer whose home was destroyed by fire.
A fund raiser was held Sunday on the NAPA parking lot on Terry Road to benefit Byram Police Sergeant Jay Nelson.
Five dollars plates were sold to help Nelson recover from losing his house and everything in it.
Tony McLean, owner of the Ink Asylum Tattoo Shop organized the event.
He said wanted to show that people with a tattoo lifestyle are also caring citizens who support local heroes life police and firefighters.
People dropping by to support the event danced, listened to music, purchased hamburger and hotdog plates and enjoyed kids activities.
In the early morning hours of May 10th Nelson said he was awakened by his American Bulldog Mastiff Sadie who was pushing him and growling.
"I was like 'four o'clock in the morning leave me alone' you know and she kept on, and when I finally did turn and looked the house was pretty much fully involved. I rolled off on the floor and got her and we crawled out the side door, and when we got out the side door the windows blew out and it went up," recounted Nelson.
"To kind of give back, get him back where he was. It's a great loss, and we'll never make him as comfortable as he was before but the best that we can do to get him to that, the happier we will be," said McLean.
Nelson said he is amazed by the outpouring of support.
The Byram native is living temporarily in a courtesy apartment and has received clothing, money and other donations.
Although he had no insurance, Nelson hopes to rebuild the house on the land he inherited from his mother.
Also raffled off was a new silver Chrysler 200 from Joe Usry Dodge.
Donations can also be made to a benefit account set up at Bancorp South.
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WLBT 3 - Fox 40
