help a family in need: Steven & Andreka Davis
March 3, 2009 - House Fire image with family photo

Visits: 9963
It is amazing what a dollar has done!
$14,000 Raised
and A New Beginning

SPECIAL THANKS TO

EVERYONE OUT THERE
and

The Family

Steve, Husband, Age 33
Andreka, Wife, Age 28
Alivia, Daughter, Age 4
Andrew, Son, Age 11
Sebrina, Daughter, Age 7
Elizabeth, Daughter, Age 2
Tiffany S., Daughter, Age 13



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House fire leaves the Davis family of 7 homeless

March 2, 2009 Marengo, Ohio -- A house fire started by a portable heater consumes the Davis family home. Fortunately, the Davis family of 7 : Steve, Andreka, Andrew, Sabrina, Alivia, Tiffany, Elizabeth and their 2 dogs and pet rabbits all made it out suffering only smoke inhalation. However, all the their possessions were lost. With nowhere else to stay, the family will be forced to live with family and friends until they can get back on their feet... again.

But there is more to this story...

Feeling the financial strain in today's economy the family decided to let their homeowner's insurance lapse in favor of other financial needs. Living off of Steve's income alone has had its effects. Supporting the needs of their children outweighed the cost of the homeowner's insurance. So now they are forced to restart their lives with nothing but each other. Unfortunately for the Davis family, hardships have followed them for many years. Back in 2000 the Davis family came home to find their house on fire after a lightning strike set it ablaze. Devastated, they were forced to pick up the pieces of their lives and rebuild. That fire left them struggling and barely able to make ends meet as they tried to find a way to have their own home again.

Steve Davis, the husband, started suffering from 3 slipped discs in his back making his daily life painful but manageable. In 2007 Steve fell off a ladder and dislocated a bone in his shoulder that should have been repaired by surgery. Unable to work while recovering and with mouths to feed his surgery was never possible. About this same time he learned of his dad's bad health and failing business in Arizona. He and his family packed up their lives to go help his dad. While in Arizona, Steve learned that his daughter Christina, from a previous relationship, was homeless and living in a YMCA. He promptly moved back to Columbus, Ohio to make sure she was properly cared for. The family's first hand experience with hardship and suffering has given them the compassion to share what little they have with others in need. They allowed another family down on their luck to stay with them and share their food, only to have that family steal from them. They later allowed a single mom who was wanted for a crime in another state to stay with them. She eventually turned herself in, leaving her two year old, Elizabeth, to stay with the Davis family. Now, with a diminished income, no insurance, no savings and no possessions they have to start over.

Why a second chance

Talk to anyone who has met the family and you will hear nothing but good things. Steve Davis constantly volunteers his time and skills as a handyman/mechanic to help anyone in need. He doesn't think twice about spending his weekends helping others fix their cars, repair their water leaks, or pretty much anything else he can do to help them. Generally, Steve offers his help for the promise of a meal or maybe a beer. Despite how much time he spends helping others, he always makes time for his family. Steve now imparts his generous spirit to his son Drew, while teaching him how to repair vehicles or household needs while constantly getting him involved and interested.


Latest News

March 7, 2009 -

We, friends of Davis, are extremely happy at the support from visitors, both in kind words as well as donations. This is certainly a rough time in the economy for everyone which makes it all that more heart warming at the level of support out there for the Davis Family. Currently Steve Davis and his family are living with his mother in law. They are improving significantly however it has been hard on them as one might expect. Their kids have been impacted the most however going back to school with their friends has helped them cope.

Donations of all types and sizes have been coming in including, food, clothing, furniture, money, services, and prayers. All equally important to getting this family back on their feet. Remember donations may be delivered to Leaders Moving Company C/O Help Davis. Money is best handled through online paypal donation or check to the fund setup for Steve Davis.

A group of volunteers including the owners of Leader's Moving company, coworkers, family, friends and others who have not met the Davis' before joined forces to help demolish and clean up the remains of their old trailer so life start again. Using a baco, bob cat and lots of hands they made short work of the structure and debris. A youtube video has been created to try and gain some additional support for the family it also features some footage from the demolition efforts. Click the link below to watch it.

Many people have asked if this is a legitimate cause, the answer YES! This site and charity is being run by friends of the Davis' in hopes of providing more support for the family then we by ourselves can manage. Another question many people have posed is why the family didn't have home owner's insurance, isn't it part of most mortgages. Fact is they owned the trailer 100% themselves, they bought it and worked hard to fix it up over the years. They had home owners insurance up to 3 days before the fire when they had to let it lapse due to their current financial strain.

Stay tuned for more updates coming later this week.

October 29, 2009 -

An update and an end has been a long time in the making, and even longer for the Davis family. We are happy to announce that thanks to the generosity of everyone out there as of today the Davis's have a home again. The contributions of everyone out there helped generate $14,000, a multitude of home furnishings and gift cards. They have closed on a deal that will build a Modular house where their trailer was. Through the miracle created by everyone out there they will be in a new home by the holidays. It has been a long struggle for them and finally we can put a happy ending on this tragic event.

I would like to share with you a letter written to everyone out there shortly after they were told about this site and presented the money. Its words will mean even more now that you know how this story ends. 

Our family would like to thank each and every person who helped make this difficult time in our life a little easier. We wish we were able to say thank you to each of you in person. Whether it was a donation, giving a helping hand, or saying a prayer for our family we are thankful for everything. I wish you knew how much of an impact everything has made on us. I am happy to say we are all doing good at this time. We are staying with friends at this time trying to put things back together, taking it one day at a time. 

We are hopeful things will come together soon and we can start new loving memories. We are so please to say this has brought our family closer and made us value the smaller things in life. The biggest thing our family has learned is there are still caring, loving people out there like all of you. We know the most important things made it out that day, our family. Steve and I have five wonderful, caring children and thanks to your help they have seen nothing but good things and great support from so many people.

We are also happy to say through all this our kids now think about people who have less than us and are willing to give back to them like so many of you did us. March 2, 2009 is a date our family will never forget but you have made this less painful. So we say thank you from our hearts to your. We hope and pray God gives to you and your families the way you have ours.

Forever Grateful,
 The Davis Family



Thanks again to all who helped the Davis family, you helped prove that the smallest acts of charity can make the biggest changes. God Bless You and Yours.