Patricia Copeland, mother of Carolyn Copeland, a senior at Roanoke Rapids High School, has set up a A new start for Carolyn page through youcaring.com to help her meet some of those needs.

A honors student in the National Honor Society and French Honor Society, Carolyn has been accepted at North Carolina State University for the fall semester where the 17-year-old plans to study psychology.

“She lost everything,” Mrs. Copeland said of her daughter. “We're trying to supplement everything she lost.”

That includes a laptop and furniture she will need for school. “It will be for everything she needs in the dorm. The insurance will max out on the big ticket items.”

Carolyn, who lost her cat in the Thursday morning fire, has been stoic in the aftermath, her mother said. “She has been incredibly brave. She's devastated by the loss of her cat and everything she had. She has lived in that house since she was born. Even though she has not been able to be with her friends, she has been keeping a stiff upper lip.”

Her daughter went to school the day after the fire and has had a perfect attendance record the past four years her mother said.

Following the fire the outpouring has been tremendous, Mrs. Copeland said. There have been clothes and financial contributions.

While separated from her husband, Greg, Mrs. Copeland still had all her belongings in the house on River Road. “We saved some clothes and baby pictures. My husband lost all his fishing equipment.”

Mr. Copeland is going through all the paperwork. “It's going to be a lot of paperwork and healing,” she said.

The family just bought Carolyn clothes to get her through the rest of the school year at Roanoke Rapids. “We're doing everything we can for her to restore some semblance of normalcy,” Mrs. Copeland said.