Fruits Family Needs Our Help

The Fruits family could really use our help. Our families have been friends for a long time. They have been without a major source of heat, for over a month, while they figured out a way to pay for a new $7400 boiler. They have relied on expensive space heaters, to maintain heat in their family room, kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms. The rest of the house has been without. When the really cold temperatures hit, they ran water in every sink and tub. With the help of Matt’s mom, they were able to secure the finances for a new boiler. On Friday, December 29, the new boiler was installed. They have 14 radiators, 4 of them warmed up right away. The other 10 needed to have any air bled out. Matt and Erin bled them every ½ hour, trying to get them going. They left for a short time, to eat dinner. Shortly after they returned, all heck broke loose. Water started dripping in their entryway. Before they could get a bucket under it, it started pouring. Then it was gushing. It was obvious that a pipe had burst. They turned off all power to the new boiler, to avoid any damage to it. They tried 7 different plumbers, repeatedly, with no response. To this day, only Edwards H&C ever returned their call. They called the water company, to have the water shut off. After over an hour, thousands of gallons of water had poured into their entry way and help had still not arrived. Things were getting very stressful. They tried 911 to see if they could get ahold of any kind of help. Nothing was working. My husband, Jim, and I came over, to try and help in any way we could. My husband pumped water into the front yard, as quickly as the pump could. During all of this chaos, Matt fell, taking Erin down with him. He hit his head and was knocked out. We called an ambulance. It arrived at the same time the water company did. Matt was taken to the E.R. He was checked over and nothing seemed to be too serious. Thank God! He is dealing with headaches, soreness and nausea, but should be fine. It was decided that the family would get a hotel room and check things out, at home, in the morning.The next morning, Edwards H&C came to assess the damage. Matt & Erin were told that they needed to heat the house up and dry out as much as they could. Edwards would come back on Tuesday, to fix the broken pipe, turn the water back on, get the boiler up and running again and check for any other possible breaks and/or leaks. Erin and Megan have been staying at the house. They are taking care of their pets and making sure the 3 jet heaters (one on each floor) are going at all times. This is making for little sleep, daily trips for diesel and propane and continuous checking. This is also costing the, already strapped, family a lot of money. Not to mention, the alternator on Matt’s car went out on Tuesday. Their truck won’t start, despite having two brand new batteries, being plugged in and having a full tank of diesel. It’s just too cold! Thankfully, Isaac’s 2000 Buick LeSabre is a work horse.The family is very grateful to the generous help, they have received. The Laffoon family has loaned them a salamander. Kevin Crull, Jamie Nelson and Cowboy have loaned them a salamander and have refilled their propane tanks and is allowing them to settle their bill later this week. Brent Durbin was also kind enough to loan them a salamander. This is all allowing them to keep the three floors warm and things thawed out. Through their strong family bond and continued faith, they are keeping their chins up and moving forward. They know that things are going to be financially difficult in the days and months ahead. The ambulance & E.R., upcoming repairs, hotel costs, fuel costs, bigger than usual electric bills and more. The one known broken pipe and ceiling are going to cost them $1000. Each subsequent break is another $1000. Anything you can do to help, will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!