Support the Bentley Family's Recovery Journey

Hi everyone, I'm Katie, sister/sister-in-law/Aunt KK to my brother Nick, his wife Sheena, and their two kids, Mila and Landon.

As many of you know, like many other families, the Bentley family was severely affected by Hurricane Helene, which caused extensive damage to their home and property in the Westshore area of Tampa, Florida. Their house, situated on a canal leading from the Bay, suffered major flooding, resulting in heartbreaking losses. While the structure of the house remains intact and everyone is thankfully safe, their home, both family cars, and many personal belongings have been damaged beyond repair.

Unfortunately, insurance only covers a fraction of their losses. At the time of the storm, their home was on the market for sale, but now they’re uncertain how to move forward. In addition to the enormous amount of repairs, they still have to pay the mortgage, while also covering the costs of temporary stays and eventually, a rental property. The damages to the house and cars alone total hundreds of thousands of dollars, with a long journey ahead to make the home sellable again. As of today, they need new everything. New floors, walls, toilets, cabinets, fridge, A/C unit, all new furniture, the kid's toys- you name it, it likely needs to be replaced.

Currently, they are searching for a rental home for the next 6-12 months, but with so many others displaced in the area, affordable rentals are hard to come by. In the meantime, they’ve been moving between temporary accommodations through hotels and Airbnbs, trying to find a place that meets their family’s needs.

They have been incredibly blessed by the outpouring of support from friends and family, who have offered meals, help, and comfort.

Many people want to help and have reached out, but in situations like this, it can be hard to know exactly how to make a difference. To help, I’ve set up this GoFundMe to provide the Bentleys with love and support. Your donation might go towards a home-cooked meal, covering a weekend’s stay in a hotel while they continue their search for a permanent rental home, the cost of a new car, or helping with the hundreds of thousands in repairs to the current home.

Each day presents brand new challenges for them, and I hope this can be a way for their community to rally around them and offer some relief.

Thank you all so much for your love and support for my brother and his beautiful family. Your kindness means the absolute world, and I appreciate each one of you.