February 10, 2026
Local Law Enforcement Family Receives Community Support After House Fire
By Gina Horan
Local Law Enforcement Family Receives Community Support After House Fire
The local community and friends from the surrounding areas are coming together to support beloved neighbors after a devastating house fire left them displaced over the weekend.
The Perkins family, who live off County Road 452 across from Lake Yale, lost their home Sunday in a fire that destroyed the residence. Billie-Jo and Gene Perkins were living in the home with their grandchildren, Kyla and Calvin, whom they are raising. Billie-Jo’s father and aunt also lived in the house.
In the immediate aftermath, the family has been receiving assistance from the American Red Cross and is currently staying in a hotel in Tavares. Additional temporary lodging is expected to be provided. Insurance representatives are working with the family, but community support is helping address urgent day-to-day needs.
Gene is an employee of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Billie-Jo is a retired employee of the Sheriff’s Office. The family has longstanding ties to the local law enforcement community, as well as deep roots in the area.
In response, One Thirteen Coffeehouse in Eustis is organizing a community donation drive to help the family replace essential items lost in the fire. The coffeehouse is accepting clothing donations, toiletries, socks, underwear and everyday necessities. Gift cards are also welcomed to help the family cover immediate expenses as they begin the recovery process.
Requested clothing sizes include adult female XL tops, size 14 bottoms and adult male size 38 pants and 2XL tops, along with teen sizes for both male and female family members. Shoes are also needed in women’s sizes 6 and 11 and men’s sizes 10 and 13.
Mount Dora–Eustis BJJ Academy is also hosting a donation drive for the family, expanding the effort across the community.
Donations may be dropped off at either of the two locations. Organizers say the goal is to help bridge the gap while the family works through longer-term recovery and insurance claims.
Every contribution, organizers say, helps meet an immediate need and reminds the family they are not facing this alone.
Donations can be made at:
One Thirteen Coffee House / 112 S Bay St., Eustis
Eustis BJJ Academy / 1100 N Donnelly St., Mount Dora
Gina moved to Central Florida in August 2021 from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a degree in linguistics and worked as a fashion editor, photo stylist lifestyle columnist and food writer for the Knight Ridder Newspaper Group. She also covered and photographed music festivals, fashion shows and sports throughout Northern California. In 2000, she joined KSAN radio as a morning show co-host and produced the news and sports content there for four years. She later covered travel, events and the restaurant scene for KRON-Bay TV. A veteran bartender, Gina has worked in hospitality on and off since high school. She has been with Akers Media since 2022 and hosts the Healthy Living Central Florida podcast. Her passions include travel, road trips, baseball, history books and podcasts, tasting menus and arriving in a new city without a map or guidebook.
