Hester House Fire Update

My friends Jimmy and Elizabeth Hester, along with their 5 children: Jameson, Mercy, Patience, Justice, and Noble, lost their home in a devastating house fire that took place on Easter Sunday while they were out of town. Everything is gone, along with their personal belongings, many of their animals, vehicles, and most of their home. Thankfully, none of the family was home when it caught on fire.

We are taking up a collection to support this family of seven as they restart from scratch, literally.

After the fire, Jimmy’s plan was to immediately start on the house with the help of volunteers from family, friends, businesses, and churches, while the insurance details were being worked out. Jimmy does disaster relief as a ministry through Florida Relief Outreach and knows insurance companies can typically take several months to work out the details on a claim.

On Wednesday of Easter week Jimmy received a phone call from their insurance agent that their house insurance had been cancelled due to a shortage in payment. He immediately gave the insurance agent the payment info to pay the shortage. On Thursday, the insurance agent reached out to Jimmy letting him know the insurance company had not yet processed the payment. Good Friday morning he reached out to the agent to get an update, but the office was closed for Good Friday.

The house caught fire on Easter night. Jimmy reached out to the agent first thing Monday morning to see if the payment had been processed.

The answer was no and the insurance company had dropped the coverage. There are a couple of reasons, primarily the payment shortage and another “Jimmy Hester” who was insured by the same insurance group had filed a claim against the company and they assumed it was the same Jimmy Hester with the claim and a shortage of payment. The company chose to drop the coverage and refused to process the payment.

Jimmy reached out to a friend who advocates for people in this unfortunate position with their insurance company, but a few months ago the Hesters got the final word. With a heavy heart they found out there was no insurance coverage on the house at the time of the fire, nor do they have any legal recourse to get the insurance company to pay for the fire damage.

It is especially heartbreaking that their house was lost on Easter, however we know that our God, YHWH, is all-powerful and has the power to restore all things. Here is what we are asking:

1. First and most importantly, please keep their family in PRAYER. We can’t do anything without YHWH. Pleased pray for His strength, guidance, and wisdom on how to move forward.

2. Second, if you, your business, or church are able to GIVE anything monetarily, even as little as $1, God can multiply it. We please ask for your help in supporting this family as they start over.

3. Please SHARE this giving link everywhere that you can. Even if you don’t live in East Orlando, you never know who might see this and have the means to help.

Thank you!

🙏

*Helping Hands Ministry is partnering with the Hesters to take care of their needs and to help rebuild their home. HHM is a 501-c3 and all donations made to the family through this organization are tax deductible.

100% of your donation will go to their family. The usual 8% Helping Hands administrative fee is being covered by an anonymous donor.