‘I’m doing the best I can’: Northside woman in need of home repair, chooses gratitude

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A woman on the Northside is sharing the appreciation she’s feeling this season, despite a major hurdle in her life.

You may remember Eula Copeland, who is navigating next steps after a tree from her neighbor’s yard fell onto her home near the Trout River last month.

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High winds from Tropical Storm Nicole caused the tree, about 90 feet tall, to fall.

It severely damaged her home, barely missing her.

RELATED: ‘I’m blessed to be alive:’ Northside home severely damaged after neighboring tree crashes down

Action News Jax reporter Kennedy Dendy checked in with Copeland.

“If the Lord hadn’t been on my side, where would I be? Copeland asked.

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Gratitude and the great trust she had in God is what’s keeping Copeland strong.

“Sometimes you feel like crying and you don’t know what to do,” Copeland said. “It’s rough. It’s not easy, and I’m doing the best I can.”

Even through her own storm, Copeland has been a blessing to others, looking out for those close to her, who are sick or hurting.

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“I’ve been through a lot and just like people have reached out to me, I feel like I should reach out to others and show my support. God has been good to me,” Copeland said.

She’s paying the kindness forward, as the community has stepped up in ways she couldn’t have imagined, from near and far.

“I would like to thank everyone,” Copeland said.

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Like Bruce Scott with Alpha Tree Service in Jacksonville, who removed the tree from her home, allowing her to pay as the money comes in.

He’s been doing tree service for 26 years, and this is the largest tree he’s ever removed from a home.

“It’s the golden rule,” Scott said. “She was in a tight, and she needed help. The kind of help she needed was the kind of help that we can provide. So that’s what we went to do.”

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The road ahead is still uncertain for Copeland, who without insurance still desperately needs financial help to repair her roof and to get her home back together.

“It’s been rough, but I’ve got the feeling that it’s gonna get better in due time,” Copeland said.

CLICK HERE to learn about the GoFundMe that’s been set up for Copeland.

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