Support Wendee's Parents After Devastating Losses

My name is Wendee and I am hoping through the generosity of others, my elderly (86 & 83 years of age) parents, Kenneth and Ann Hoyt, will be able to have a way to rebuild. They moved to Punta Gorda Florida in June hoping to live in an area that would add to their quality of life. They arrived safely, however they found out 2 weeks after arriving their lifetime belongings of 60 years were involved in a tractor trailer fire and mostly lost. They have been in constant communication with the moving company, ironically out of Florida, however they refused to refund them any money, even though they were not forthcoming about the fire and my parents had already paid a substantial amount to the company (my husband and I were there and saw them pay them). The insurance company has not communicated with my parents and have not given them any of their "salvageable" items back or any monetary replacement either. Consequently, they stayed in a hotel longer than anticipated, bought new furnishings, clothes, electronics, etc. once they moved into their home. As of today, they still do not have their items or any compensation from the moving company or the insurance company (they moved June 19, 2024).

Then came Hurricane Helene. Their house took on some water and damaged their floors and air conditioning unit. The floors were estimated to cost roughly $3000 and the air conditioning $10,000. They had planned on starting with the floors and I was trying to find grant programs for them for the AC but the worst was their truck was flooded and deemed totaled. Consequently, they were left without a vehicle. Their truck was only 2 years old and their main source of mobility.

Then came Hurricane Milton. This time the surge was too much for their home and it completely flooded leaving it inhabitable. I happened to be on Facebook and saw a young woman offering to take photos for free of damages which was amazing because my parents do not have a cell phone and relied on a landline which was no longer working because of the loss of electricity. I reached out to her and realized they were actually from the town I live in and had relocated to Florida. They generously offered to go check on them (as I am in NJ) and relayed the condition of their house as not livable. The rental car my parents were able to get also floated away and would not start. They helped get them into a shelter and now they are in a hotel.

They need as much help as you are willing to give! They need to rebuild in more than one way ... not only have they lost most of their lifelong belongings but they now have lost the little they were accumulating after the fire. Now, the costs of hotels and other expenses have been hard to manage as they are on a fixed income.

They tried to find legal help to deal with the moving company/insurance company but they were not successful. They will be coming back to NJ to regroup however my parents cannot navigate stairs that well anymore as my mom broke her hip last year so my home is not compatible with their lifestyle.

We owe many thanks to the family that has been helping them/us. They sent me videos of the damage. Please click the You Tube link to view.

Thank you to anyone who would consider donating. Even the smallest amount will help in a big way.