Pinball friend lost everything in home fire - Request to help family

https://www.gofundme.com/help-the-witkosky

My good friend and PinballSTAR staff member Jerry Witkosky lost his home, all his belongings, a dog and 2 cats today in a fire. Jerry works with in our booth at shows and many of you up and down the east coast know him from his deliveries of games to your homes. Hard working guy for his family now needs help. He also recently lost his dad who he was very close to so this is especially heartbreaking. Jerry is also a veteran of the US Navy. Fortunately he and his wife, son, and 4 grandkids escaped the fire unharmed.

His daughter set up a Go Fund Me for the family and I sincerely ask for your help if you can give to our friend in his time of need. Jerry does alot for the pinball community and I know we can help him in return !!!

jerry1 (resized).jpg
jerrry2 (resized).jpg
jerry3 (resized).jpg
jerry4 (resized).jpg

#2 6 years ago

SDJ

SergioJ

Pinside member

11y 57,050 507 44 28

Ugh, that sucks.....bumping this back up a little.

#3 6 years ago

ROB

Rdoyle1978

Pinside member

7y 117K 18,144 14 6

That is f-ing horrible.. thanks for the link joe

#4 6 years ago

EFX

miracleman

Pinside+ Frequent

Orlando, FL

10y 67,800 792 2

I know the loss of pets is even more heartbreaking than the loss of the home. I wish them the speediest recovery possible.

Donation made, bumping back to top.

#5 6 years ago

???

kevmad

Pinside+ Addict

Madison, AL

12y 51,300 864

bump. donation made.

#6 6 years ago

RDM

boscokid

Pinside member

Wilmington, DE

9y 83,050 2,759 4

bump

#7 6 years ago

SPB

Dodgefolks

Inactive member

Manheim, PA

6y 20,050 53 1

I know him & knew his dad, good people!

#8 6 years ago

HEP

High_End_Pins

HEP

Matthews, NC

12y 142K 12,533

Is there a way to donate via PayPal?

#9 6 years ago

JOE

PinballSTAR

Quoted from High_End_Pins:
Is there a way to donate via PayPal?

Chris ty... you can send to his PayPal at [email protected]
Ty for your kindness
Joe

#10 6 years ago

JOE

PinballSTAR

Ty to everyone who has helped Jerry and his family they have a long road ahead not just financially but emotionally I’m sure. He was down today but hoping the support he’s getting helps his spirits. Here’s a post he made today on FB. Hoping he gets the prayers and support he needs to be strong for his family.

D4DF989E-B62D-4EEF-BDAE-4643201CB4F0 (resized).jpeg

#11 6 years ago

HEP

High_End_Pins

HEP

Matthews, NC

12y 142K 12,533

OP
Quoted from PinballSTAR:
Chris ty... you can send to his PayPal at [email protected]
Ty for your kindness
Joe

Glad to do it. I would rather send the money to this poor guy than have it sitting in my Paypal account so it was nice to have the option. Thanks for the info.

#12 6 years ago

CHD

djreddog

Pinside member

Magnolia, DE

8y 99,050 3,914 20

Just donated. Keep this to the top.

#13 6 years ago

CRP

LateCenturyMods

Pinside member

Houston, TX

8y 55,150 305

Bump

#14 6 years ago

JAH

heni1977

Pinside member

Decatur, IL

11y 89,800 2,529 4 6

Bump

#15 6 years ago

Monk

Pinside member

7y 93,800 1,911 21

Putting some of that tax refund to good use bump. I'll keep them in my prayers.

#16 6 years ago

JOE

PinballSTAR

Thank you all for your support ! It means a lot to him. He works hard for all my customers and is an asset to the pinball community in general - always lending a hand where needed on the road or at shows. It's got to be hard to lose everything, but comforting to him so many people care.. TY...

#17 6 years ago

JPC

DngrWillRobinson

Inactive member

Chicago, IL

6y 43,650 378 3

Bump for a good cause. I will be donating.

#18 6 years ago

MDJ

mooch

Pinside+ Frequent

Mojave Desert, NV

10y 89,300 1,293 2

Donation made.

Bump

#19 6 years ago

DFS

Vyzer2

Pinside+ Addict

Jefferson, NJ

12y 103K 2,356 11

Met Jerry when he came to my house to pick up a game. Really nice guy. Sorry to hear this news.
Donation made.

#20 6 years ago

RandyV

Pinside+ Frequent

Denver, CO

11y 57,550 360 18

You're a good man for doing this Joe. Donation sent...

#21 6 years ago

BUS

srmonte

Pinside member

17y 56,800 764

Does he have insurance?? My best friends house burned down and they lost everything 5 years ago. But they came out of the whole deal with it being the biggest blessing of their lives. They got to rebuild a nicer house and there belongings were all upgraded. He will litterally tell you it was the best thing to happen to them. They had people giving them things and money and he was always telling them no because the insurance payed everything

#22 6 years ago

JOE

PinballSTAR

Quoted from srmonte:
Does he have insurance?? My best friends house burned down and they lost everything 5 years ago. But they came out of the whole deal with it being the biggest blessing of their lives. They got to rebuild a nicer house and there belongings were all upgraded. He will litterally tell you it was the best thing to happen to them. They had people giving them things and money and he was always telling them no because the insurance payed everything

On their contents yes - but most likely not enough to replace all, unfortunately on the house no. But not his fault - it was because the house was owned by a family member of his wife’s but they let insurance cancel unknown to anyone. So his most pressing issue is having a replacement place to live.

I understand what you are saying to an extent, but I know many people who have been through this and it’s one of the hardest things they go through - insurance or not. Its certainly not a good thing anyone wishes for it enjoys.

#23 6 years ago

JLM

jlm33

Pinside member

Villejuif

11y 152K 5,892 7 169

Paypal donation made and free bump...

#24 6 years ago

NDE

Spyderturbo007

Pinside member

9y 108K 5,648

I donated. I can't imagine someone going through something like this.

1 week later

#25 6 years ago

RVM

robin

Pinside founder

Alkmaar

21y 192K 7,921 94

Bumping this to the top and also added as a front page sticky for a few days. I hope some extra exposure helps!

#26 6 years ago

GAB

pinnyheadhead

Pinside+ Frequent

Dunwoody, GA

11y 119K 5,040 8 40

Donation sent.

Hope Jerry and his family hang in there during this difficult time.

#27 6 years ago

JFM

APOLLO_13

Inactive member

12y 56,650 1,665 8 11

BIG BUMP

#28 6 years ago

JER

JerryB

Inactive member

Stockton, CA

6y 31,650 109 1

Thank you Robin for the sticky.

Donation made.

#29 6 years ago

JFM

APOLLO_13

Inactive member

12y 56,650 1,665 8 11

bump

#30 6 years ago

JOE

PinballSTAR

Quoted from robin:
Bumping this to the top and also added as a front page sticky for a few days. I hope some extra exposure helps!

This is why you are awesome - doing something like that without being asked... TY ROBIN !
Joe

#31 6 years ago

DAD

Azmodeus

Pinside+ Addict

Fullerton, CA

12y 97,400 5,100 1

I had my home burn down when I was 16. The insurance company never paid my mom or even put her in a hotel. Coincidentally I was in another state. A lawsuit settled in my moms favor a couple years later.

Losing everything in this way. No matter what happens, it sticks with you. I'm sorry this happened to him.

#32 6 years ago

MRB

mark532011

Pinside+ Frequent

9y 82,800 1,718 7

Saw this on the front page, I've never met Jerry but he sounds like a good guy and I am so sorry to hear about the loss. Donation sent.

#33 6 years ago

CBM

spfxted

Pinside member

Saddle River, NJ

12y 147K 24,661 4 9

Donated! Good luck to him!

#34 6 years ago

OI!

jefryan

Pinside member

Alexandria, VA

6y 47,050 213 3 10

Thanks guys for posting as I almost missed this. Glad to help and all the best to them! Loads of money on here with all the members... if everyone would give a little they could easily surpass their goal. C'mon Pinside, open your wallets and hearts!!!

1 week later

#35 6 years ago

Monk

Pinside member

7y 93,800 1,911 21

At just under $85 per donation I'm fairly impressed with some of the generosity from the people in this hobby. There are a handful of $500 donations from some interesting parties as well. Keep up the great work everyone.

#36 6 years ago

???

silver_spinner

AR Gaming Rentals (MI)

11y 77,550 3,046

bump for the love of people and animals.

#37 6 years ago

LJD

Adrift

Pinside+ Frequent

8y 34,050 59

Donated. Glad to help out a fellow Pinsider and a fellow Navy Vet. God Bless.

#38 6 years ago

ROB

Mojosan

Pinside member

Bryn Athyn, PA

12y 71,900 622 23 23 4

Donated and a very worthwhile cause for a good guy.

Jerry is at all the shows and delivers NIB pins from PinballStar to my buddy and I.

#39 6 years ago

DEB

iamabearsfan

Pinside+ Addict

Woodridge, IL

11y 78,300 1,197 4 8

Donated

#40 6 years ago

ROB

Rdoyle1978

Pinside member

7y 117K 18,144 14 6

Kept meaning to comeback to this thread and donate. There. Now that’s done.

#41 6 years ago

MRB

mark532011

Pinside+ Frequent

9y 82,800 1,718 7

Quoted from Monk:
At just under $85 per donation I'm fairly impressed with some of the generosity from the people in this hobby. There are a handful of $500 donations from some interesting parties as well. Keep up the great work everyone.

Don't forget that an unknown number also donated via Paypal, make me feel good about this site.

#42 6 years ago

MAS

Swainer80

Pinside+ Frequent

Ballwin, MO

10y 86,800 920 32 28

Check is in the mail. Bump.

#43 6 years ago

CLY

Clytor

Richmond Pin Collective

Richmond, VA

9y 87,550 1,123 18 7

Bump

#44 6 years ago

JOE

PinballSTAR

I got a call last week to ask if we can accept a check for Jerry, then this came in the mail with a heartfelt note. From someone who doesn’t even know him... I know this is going to brighten his struggles knowing people care.

THANK YOU pinball community. Such good people !!!

Joe

31B4F478-985C-4B26-92D4-9B5994D2483A (resized).jpeg

#45 6 years ago

LEE

Leeb18509

Pinside member

Farmington, UT

12y 76,550 2,113 5

Happy to donate bump.

#46 6 years ago

ELT

PAPinballer

Pinside member

Pittsburgh, PA

8y 26,400 38

Hi Joe,
Thanks for letting us know. I met Jerry and I believe his brother several months ago when they came to my house to drop off a WoZ. Really nice and great guys. Donation made thru paypal.

#47 6 years ago

???

phil-lee

Pinside member

8y 91,550 4,216

If there is a mailing addres

OP
Quoted from PinballSTAR:I got a call last week to ask if we can accept a check for Jerry, then this came in the mail with a heartfelt note. From someone who doesn’t even know him... I know this is going to brighten his struggles knowing people care.
THANK YOU pinball community. Such good people !!!
Joe

Can you accept another one? Address? Thanks.

#48 6 years ago

COZ

Coz

RiverCity Arcade

6y 125K 3,818

Donated - I hope that it helps toward recovery

#49 6 years ago

JOE

PinballSTAR