Five years ago, we toured a home in the Peter Howell neighborhood. A spunky woman in a motorized wheelchair whizzed by: "It's a great neighborhood. You should buy it!" And, thus, Abby was the first person to welcome us to our new neighborhood.

Since then, we've seen her zipping off to volunteer at her synagogue, checking out entertainment venues, keeping tabs on the nesting hawks in our park, or heading to the pool. Ever cheerful, she seems to know all of the neighbors. She greets people, knows their dog's names, and brings light to those around her.

Imagine my surprise when I received a recent text from her: "I'm in deep shit. I hoarded up my house bad inside and out. Cops are coming on Monday and are going to enter whether I want them to or not. I've been trying to clean, but I don't think I can get it good enough by Monday." She was mortified, but she knew she needed help. A plea like that takes courage.

A group of friends rallied and got a lot of work on the outside, and now the inside needs help. It's going to take a professional, though. Abby has helped many people through her service in her synagogue and her cheerful presence in the neighborhood. Now we have an opportunity to give back. Can you help make Abby's home a safe and clean place to live? Your donation will go directly to a professional cleaning service and needed repairs. The quote from the cleaning company is $6600-$8600. There are needed plumbing repairs. Her mattress and box spring weren't salvageable and have gone to the dump.

Can't donate right now? Skilled volunteers are needed for a few handyman tasks. If you have plumbing or home repair skills, please reach out to Leslie through GoFundMe, or to Abby directly.