My name is Jolen Smith, and I live in Hawthorne. The weather here in Florida can be unpredictable, but we never expected a massive pine tree to crash straight through our roof during last weekend’s severe storms. The impact shattered the structural beams above our living area, and the subsequent rain has caused extensive water damage to our floors and drywall.

We are a hardworking family, but the contractor quotes for structural stabilization and emergency tarping are coming in at $5,500 out-of-pocket before insurance even processes our long-term claim. With more rain in the forecast this week, our home is slowly rotting away. I’m asking my community for a hand up to help us secure the roof and save our structure before it’s too late. Every single dollar goes directly to the structural repair materials. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.