Help for the Henskens!

They say it takes a village to support and grow a family, so we're turning to our communities to help our sister and her family in their time of need. Kallie, Kees, and their 1-year-old son, Dutch, were displaced from their home in January due to a water-line break that occurred while a contractor was cleaning their dryer vent. In an effort to stop the water damage, they called a national plumbing company for water mitigation. Unfortunately, the plumber moved their hot water heater without turning off the water line, causing a large secondary flood.

To re-mitigate the flooding, the plumbing company opened up the walls, exposing toxic mold from the initial flood. They ran equipment overnight with the HVAC on and failed to hang any plastic barriers, spreading the toxic and black mold throughout the HVAC system and other parts of the house. As a result, the home was deemed uninhabitable. For nearly four months, Kallie and Kees's home insurance has been in a standoff with the plumbing company's insurance, leaving them in a dire situation with minimal financial assistance.

They've lost furniture, many of Dutch's toys and clothing, and the entire first floor of their home. Since January, they've been paying their mortgage, rent for a temporary residence, and have thousands in healthcare costs due to recurrent illnesses from toxic mold exposure, totaling over $6,000 in extra expenses per month. With Dutch constantly sick and needing pediatrician visits, antibiotics, and repeat lab work, Kallie and Kees have missed significant work, putting their jobs and livelihood at risk.

They are humble and have not asked for help outside the family. While our families have done as much as we can, Kallie and Kees need the support of their wider network to get through this challenging time. To make their home inhabitable again, it will cost between $50,000-60,000. Though we don't expect anyone to fully cover their financial burden, any contribution to their GoFundMe would be deeply appreciated. We would be eternally grateful for any support you can provide!