Help Laurie Restore Her Life and Home

Please help.... Laurie O'Gara, my friend for over 40 years.

The past two hurricanes that have come through Florida have directly come through Englewood, the town where Laurie had her home.

During the first hurricane, Helene, Laurie had stored, hoping to protect her lifetime collection of her art and antiques. Unfortunately, the area where this was stored had major water damage, but her home was high and dry. Hurricane Milton was much more powerful and has now taken out her home completely. The video attached will show the damage this last hurricane, Milton, caused. You can see where the front of the house was punched out. Everything inside was destroyed. No idea yet if the home itself is salvageable or if it’s a total loss.

Laurie is a single senior citizen living on only Social Security, battling health issues. She was very proud that she finally paid off her mortgage last month. Now she has nothing. She has always volunteered and given back to her community in any way she could, including being an active teacher of sailing at the local sailing club for teenagers. The past six months she has been an end-of-life doula for a dear friend who just passed away this summer of cancer. These are just two examples of how generous a spirit Laurie has been all her life.

I know personally Laurie helped me through a very dark time in my life; she was there to help me keep my house and help me take care of my children…

I, Joan Sweeting Palagonia, believe that by starting this GoFundMe page, all of the people she has helped over the years can let Laurie know how grateful they are to her for being in their lives. I’m hoping we can raise together enough to help her rebuild her home and her spirit, by trying to make her whole again for her retirement years.

Thank you in advance for any help you can give.