HOUSTON — A Houston rapper came to the aid of a family displaced when a fire damaged its home and destroyed its Christmas presents.
Trae Tha Truth, who has helped Houston-area families in the past, stepped up and provided gifts for the Smith family's eight children and three adults, KTRK reported. The children range in age from 5 to 14, and the rapper gave the family toys, gift cards and a stereo, the television station reported.
Officials believe the Dec. 6 fire was caused by an unattended stove that was left on, KTRK reported. No one was home when the fire broke out.
Trae, 39, was born Frazier Othel Thompson III and grew up in Houston. He had a day named in his honor in Houston (Trae Day, every July 22) in 2008 by then-Mayor Bill White.
"We lost everything because 80% of the house was burned and everything that wasn't burned has water damage because the fire was so extreme," Britton Smith wrote on a GoFundMe page set up for the family.
He has released 11 albums, including 2019′s “Exhale.”
Saturday, Trae and his Relief Gang organization gave away 50 Christmas trees, KRPC reported.
He heard about the Smith family while he was holding a community toy drive, KTRK reported. While the family tries to cope with the loss of their house, at least the family will be able to celebrate Christmas.