MARICOPA, Ariz. — On Oct. 13 at 6 a.m., Jeremy and Brandilyn Hill started their drive from their Maricopa home to Tennessee, North Carolina, and Florida. Behind them, a 15-foot trailer filled with donations to give out to Hurricane Helene and Milton victims.
After 30 straight hours of driving, the Hills stopped at a Howard Johnson by Wyndham Inn in Jackson, Tenn. to sleep. While they were sleeping, the Hills say their truck was broken into and about $30,000 worth of personal items were stolen.
“I’m pissed off for one because I drove 30 hours out here to help these people in Tennessee," Jeremy said. "Definitely didn’t feel the southern kindness for sure."
Three laptops, two iPads, five firearms, electronics, cash and some donations stolen from the truck.
"All the cash that people donated for fuel and donations is gone," Brandilyn said in a video they posted on social media.
People donated money to Jeremy's cash app to help pay for the Hill's fuel and for more donations. That money was put in their center console that locks, but when they got back to their car they saw that it was broken and the cash was gone.
"We took it out of Cashapp because we were told the Hurricane hit areas were only taking cash donations," Jeremy added. "The center console locks. It's basically considered a safe."
The sliver of good news is that no donations inside the trailer were stolen. The Hills were able to hand the donations off to an organization they were already in contact with called Ops Three. That organization runs hurricane relief out of Humboldt, Tenn. and will take the donations to North Carolina to give out.
Information was taken off of Jeremy's personal and business laptops, taking money out of his business JBH Maintenance & Remodeling LLC account which he started a year and a half ago. Forcing the Hills to cancel all of their credit cards.
"Basically I have to get back to Arizona and hit the ground running to keep my business afloat," Jeremy said. "This trip is going to be very close to bankrupting me."
But now comes the challenge of getting back to Arizona with their lack of funds. They are getting by right now with family sending them money.
“I feel horrible because I tried to do the right thing. At least I thought it was the right thing," Jeremy said.
The Hills filed a police report with the Jackson Police Department and have since gotten their truck fixed. After the Hills make a stop in Georgia to help a former military friend of Jeremy's who is stuck inside his home because of the hurricane they plan on driving back to Maricopa.
"Everyone knows my trailer says veteran-owned on it," Jeremy added. "I can’t believe that everything that I’ve been through someone would do this.”
If you'd like to help the Hills pay for fuel on their trip back you can find their cashapp on their business Facebook page.