(WWJ) A 20-year-old who allegedly tried to commit suicide by setting his bedroom on fire in Dearborn Heights ended up killing himself and costing his family every belonging -- including their house.
"It was kind of like a bomb," the surviving son of the Acosta family told FOX 2 of what happened to their house in the blaze. Nick Acosta added that his brother who died in the fire, Christian Acosta, had struggled with mental illness for months while the family desperately sought help.
But the community didn't let Christian's tragedy end the family's story.
Instead, they rallied around the Acosta family and organized a drive Sunday to collect furniture, food -- and money -- at Eternal Light community center.
People lined up with goods throughout much of the day, astonishing the Acostas with their generosity.
"It gives you hope for humanity when something like this happens and there's so much outpouring and outreach for people to come and support its fantastic," said Paul Finch who donated furniture.
For the family, the outpouring reminded them of the good in the world.
"I fully expected my family to pull together and friends to try to make something happen, but to have the community come together like this is just astonishing," said Nick Acosta.
