Lightning Destroyed their Historic Kansas Home

My name is Rachel, and I am sharing the story of a tragic house fire that happened on August 2, 2023 for family friends, Dave and Angelina Morgan. Their two-story home in Ellinwood, Kansas was struck by lightning and caught fire. Because of the electrical nature, fire and hot spots persisted even as firefighters doused the home with water. This means that in addition to smoke and fire damage in their entire second story, the first floor was also severely damaged by water and falling debris as the ceilings and insulation disintegrated above. Fortunately, the couple were able to evacuate with their dog before anyone was hurt, but nearly ALL of their belongings, clothing, furniture, and the home itself were a total loss.

The crazy part is.... the lightning struck their 18-year-old daughter's room right near her bed, and fortunately she was not home at the time, or this story might've been even more tragic. They are clinging to the memories made in that home, and grieving this terrible loss, just trying to put one foot in front of the other and figure out the next steps. Dave and Angelina are great human beings, and do so much for the people around them. They had spent the last 3-4 years completely renovating the 2-story home they lived in, all by themselves. Their home was a historic home from the 1800s that used to be a railroad boarding house, and was one-of-a-kind. They not only lost their dwelling and their belongings, but also the thousands and thousands of hours of sweat equity they had poured into their home over the last several years. They worked side-by-side together to make it their forever home, and now it is all GONE, along with their treasured family photos, and other priceless heirlooms.

See the damage in detail:

https://youtube.com/shorts/TF0OqHRdVPk?feature=share

We may not be able to give them back the irreplaceable photos they lost, or give them back the home they knew and loved, but we can rally around them to show our support in this tragic time in their life. They will have some help from insurance, but their coverage was put in place before the renovations they did, and may fall a little short, so they will be walking away with a lot less than they need to replace their home.

We're hoping to raise at least $5,000 to help them with floating expenses until insurance can be negotiated, and to help provide meals and groceries for them while they are displaced and drowning in all these responsibilities to file claims and figure out their next steps. Please consider donating to help their family, and also continue to keep them in your prayers. They are understandably exhausted, emotionally drained, and logistically overwhelmed with the reality of what is facing them in the months to come.

Philippians 2:4 says, "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." We appreciate any gift you can give to help them start over!