Devastating Fire: Help the Gedamke Family Start Again

Please help my in-laws, a longtime local Martin County family, in getting back on their feet following the devastating loss of their home in a house fire. Kathy Gedamke, her husband Dan, and their son Jorin have been displaced indefinitely and they are in desperate need of help.

On January 28, 2025 a fire broke out in the kitchen of their home in south Stuart. The suspected cause was an electrical short. The fire caused massive structural damage and loss of personal property. The following water damage from firefighting efforts resulted in further losses of property and the collapse of what remained of the ceiling. The home, which was uninsured, will need to be torn down and rebuilt. This home is where they have lived since 1993 and raised 7 children. And now they are starting completely from scratch.

Kathy is the sole provider for the household, as her husband's health does not allow him to work. Kathy is a professor of mathematics at Keiser University and president of the local chapter of Aglow International, a multi-denominational Christian outreach group. Dan and Kathy have extended help and charity to so many members of their local community, and I am hoping that through this platform, some of that generosity will be returned to them. The Gedamke family has valiantly shouldered this burden, taking on the work of cleanup of the site and restoration of what possessions could be salvaged themselves. But elbow grease and strong backs will only go so far.

These funds will help pay for new housing for the Gedamke family. They hope to remove the damaged remains of their old home and rebuild on their land. The reality is that this undertaking will cost far more than we are asking for here, but every little bit helps and the Gedamke family are so grateful for any aid you can provide. So please, consider donating what you can and share this fundraiser with others. Our best chance of success is to reach as wide an audience as possible. Thank you so much for your time and generosity.