What was a hopeful moment of new life following a devastating fire does not have a happy ending. Unfortunately, the mom cow and her calf did not make it through birth and both passed away. They also have a cow with an injury. While Ken and Debbie wait for the insurance company to determine what will happen with the house and their belongings, Kaitlin Hunt has provided an update on how you can help. You can donate through the GoFundMe fundraisers at these links: Kaitlin Hunt here and Seth Pala here. You can find a list of personal items Ken and Debbie need below. You can find updates on a Facebook page, Debbie and Ken’s Fire Relief Journey, created to share updates.
Update from December 23, 2024:
1. Ken got a call from the insurance company today. They have people coming Tuesday (Christmas Eve) and Thursday to help inform them of what they can and cannot keep, and do an inspection of the house. That being said Kewanee has learned this year especially after our storms this summer 2024 that Insurance companies are not always the easiest to work with and don’t always want to pay out what they should when a claim is put in. That being said I am not letting this go I want to help make sure I find a way to support this family as long as it takes to get them completely back on their feet.
2. They may be losing their house, history, memories, belongings but hopefully tonight they gain a life. In the midst of all the stress they are expecting a baby calf to be born which definitely brings some hope to the situation.
3. I talked with Ken and Debbie today about this go fund me fundraiser and have added Debbie as the beneficiary since Seth Mela has also started a go fund me for them and has added Ken as that beneficiary. I want everyone to know that I have and will continue to be in contact with Seth to try and make sure we cover every basis.
4. I am trying to make additional plans for other ways we can help and other ways people can donate besides the go fund me. Here is what I am thinking or that has been confirmed.
A. Obviously people can donate to this go fund me or to Seth’s go fund me. Please know it does not matter which one you donate to we are not trying to have a competition just trying to cover every base and angle we can. (Confirmed)
B. If you would like to donate clothing items or other items we can do one of two things 1. I can arrange a pick up or meeting with you or 2. Hill Church at 107 North Main Street in Kewanee IL where you can drop off items from 9am- 4pm Monday-Friday or 8:30am-11:30am on Sundays.
(Confirmed)
Sizes are as follows
Ken: 2x shirts for sleepwear, daily wear, farm work, and church attire.
42×30 jeans, pants for sleepwear, and church attire.
Debbie: size medium for sleepwear shirts, daily wear shirts, farm work shirts, and church attire.
Size 10 jeans, pants for sleepwear, and church attire.
Other Items you can donate are going to be simple needs: think toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning products, batteries, new bathroom towels, new kitchen towels, blankets, pillows anything simple that we use daily. By supporting with even these simple products they can then transfer funds spent on these towards something bigger.
Egg cartons. It does not matter if you buy store bought eggs, eggs from Debbie or another local farmer. If you can save your cartons please donate them to her. It is a easy donation to save her money on something needed for her livestock and business.
I will add more specific items at a later time once they are told what they can and cannot keep.
C. They will need almost all new furniture. (For this is am trying to talk to Goods Furniture about a donation of some sort)
D. If you want to donate feed for her livestock please talk to Tracy at the grain elevator in Kewanee she can make sure to help you there. (Confirmed)
E. After the holidays I will be talking to a few local businesses about us setting up a table to collect cash donations, sell products or goodies, and collect gift cards. We will be looking for gift cards specifically to Walmart, Amazon, Menards, Good’s Furniture, Farm King, and Farm and Fleet. (In the works NOT Confirmed)
F. I am also trying to connect with the Gallery on Second Street in Kewanee to find out if I can work out gift cards or a connection for people to get gift cards from them for their framing services. I am trying for this specifically because when I was there today the photos that were saved as she was trying to show me the frames continued to break and fall apart. (This is in the works it is not confirmed)
G. I am hoping to hear more from Ken next week or the week after on what the insurance company will and won’t cover so I have a better idea a goal for monetary donations. For this I am also debating about a family fun night and a online bid a basket auction. (In the works not confirmed)
H. I have been in contact with Aj Lane who has someone willing to donate a dumpster for a week so my mission for this is to get people who will volunteer their time and labor to help with some clean up and or once they reestablish a home someone who can help prepare the home (painting, cleaning, moving furniture etc. )
I. I want to announce I think I am going to start a Facebook group and page to help these announcements become more public.
J. I have also called in the Red Cross for their assistance since I know many people have asked about it on Facebook. They are on board to help in anyway Debbie and Ken see fit.
K. Last but not least thank you all who are following this journey, have donated, or are praying for this amazing family. You guys will never understand how much it means to this family and those of us who are trying to help them.