Mike Trout visited a New Jersey family who lost their home in a fire.
Mike Trout visited a New Jersey family who lost their home in a fire. (SNJ Today screen grab)

Tragedy struck the DeSimone family just a few days before Chrismas. Their home in Buena Vista Township, New Jersey, was destroyed by a house fire. The fire, smoke, and water damage has rendered the home a "total loss."

"Total loss. It’s a total loss right now," said Tony DeSimone to SNJ Today. Thankfully no one was hurt in the fire. Tony and his wife Barbara have two children, Michael and Cecilia, who were at school when the fire happened.

The community came together to help the DeSimones following the fire. Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who grew up in nearby Millville, also lent a hand. He stopped by for a visit on Christmas Eve and brought the family gifts.

Here's more from SNJ Today:

“Your house burns down,” said Barbara Desimone. “You don’t have anything for Christmas and all these people are giving, giving, giving. Then bam! Mike Trout comes. It’s like Santa Claus arrived.”

...

“Especially, you know, you see how a lot of stars are in this day and age; they don’t remember where they came from,” said Tony Desimone. “But Mike, he’s a true ambassador of Major League Baseball. He remembers where he came from and he really helps the people in this area.”

That's really great. It's a small gesture that surely meant a lot to a family dealing with such an awful tragedy.

Trout is no stranger to helping folks in need. Last summer he met with a young boy named Thomas Walkup, who had recently undergone a major eye surgery.

As great as he is on the field, it's awesome to see Trout do so much in the community and to help folks in their time of need. He's using his fame to help others.

The DeSimones do intend to rebuild their home and stay in the neighborhood.