Hi, my name is Kelsey, and I’m organizing this on behalf of my family - Ben and Windy Sims.

Last night, my husband, our six-month-old baby, my grandmother, my younger sister, my mom, and I were suddenly awakened by a very loud explosion. . Within moments, we realized there was a fire that quickly spread and consumed the home.

By the grace of God, every single one of us made it out safely—including our dog, Jupiter. We’ve been told how incredibly fortunate we are, and we truly believe that.

While we are beyond grateful for our safety, the home has been declared a total loss by the Okeechobee Fire Marshal. Everything was taken in a matter of minutes.

We want to sincerely thank the Okeechobee Fire Department and first responders, as well as our family friends Strip and Kelly, and our neighbors Carlos and his wife, for their quick action and support during such a chaotic and overwhelming moment.

Ben was out of town on a work trip and was awakened with this devastating news. Even in the midst of everything, he has remained incredibly positive and focused on what matters most that we are all safe.

Ben and my mom, Windy, are deeply rooted in the Okeechobee community, and I know many of you will want to show your support.

Though they are well-insured and would never ask for help, I created this GoFundMe for anyone who feels led to support them during this time. I know they may not have asked for this but I also know how much this community cares about them.

They recently celebrated their wedding at this home, and it was a place filled with love, memories, and community. Losing it so suddenly is something we are still trying to process.

If you prefer to support in non-monetary ways, your thoughts, prayers, and messages of encouragement mean just as much. Right now, we are taking things one step at a time and asking for space as we continue to process and begin to rebuild.

If you’d like to reach out or help in anyway, please feel free to message me directly on Facebook.

Thank you for your love, your prayers, and your support; it truly means more than we can put into words.