Help AJ Dellea Rebuild After Devastating House Fire

On July 13th, a devastating fire completely destroyed the home of my neighbor and friend, Augustine “AJ” Dellea. AJ, a lifelong farmer and one of the hardest-working people you'll ever meet, was out in the fields doing hay—working hard, like he does every day of the year—when the fire broke out. In mere moments, he lost everything.

No safe. No backup. No time.

Their two beloved dogs died in the fire, despite AJs efforts to rescue them. All of their cherished family photos, and irreplaceable personal documents—gone. He doesn’t even have a cell phone, his glasses or a change of clothes. Despite it all, AJ and his son didn’t stop. The very next day, they were back tending to the animals in the barn, even though he no longer has a home to return to.

He and his son are currently staying locally, but the distance from the farm is painful. AJ told me today how it broke his heart when he went to leave after doing chores, only to hear one of his calves crying out with its head stuck in a gate. “What if I had already left and couldn’t help because I wasn’t here?” he said.

While AJ does have insurance, anyone who’s been through something like this knows it can take weeks—if not months—before help truly arrives. In the meantime, he needs our support.

---

How You Can Help

Your donation will go directly toward:

Replacing essentials like clothes, a phone, glasses and basic necessities

Helping AJ and his son stay on their land while rebuilding their home

Every dollar helps. Let’s show AJ that he’s not alone—that his community is here to lift him up, just like he’s done every day for us by showing up, working hard, and never complaining.

Please consider donating and sharing this fundraiser. Together, we can give AJ a place to rest, a base to rebuild from, and a reason to believe that even in the darkest of times, his community stands with him.