Hello Kind Supporters,

We are Shayla and Sharita. This Mother's Day, we find ourselves in a position we never imagined—launching a fundraising campaign for the most selfless person we know, our mother. After over 30 years of laborious factory work and countless sacrifices to ensure we had the best possible start in life, our mother’s dream of a peaceful retirement has turned into a nightmare due to a devastating contractor scam. As a single mother, she's moved mountains for us, ensuring we received a great education and had everything we needed, often working 12 to 16 hours a day. Now, she finds herself in a dire situation that has stripped her of her savings and left her home uninhabitable.

What Happened:

Prior to retiring in 2022, our mother decided to renovate our grandmother's home, which she inherited. Trusting my recommendation, she hired a contractor who appeared reputable and agreed to a substantial renovation. She signed a contract and paid a $67,500 deposit upfront, to get the project started. He asked her to remove all of her things from the property she wanted to keep and ensured her he would take care of the rest. She relocated from the home in October of 2021. He started the demolition in Jan of 2022. After the demo, progress stopped.

We would reach out to him on a consistent basis and there were promises and excuses. By December of 2022 we were contacting the contractors board for help. We were alerted the license he provided was not his, he was not actually a licensed contractor. They were unable to help us.

By mid 2023 we reached out to the attorneys. They advised us that he was in bankruptcy and had so many other cases we were likely to not get anything and would waste more money attempting to pursue him.

We were advised to reach out to the district attorney and the police department and they stated that they could not take action either. We even attempted to go to the news to ensure he did not do this to anyone else. Everywhere we turned, we had no help or options.

After speaking to others, we found out she was not the first person he has done this to. Others had been taken advantage of in the same way and some for more funds than my mother has lost.

The Impact:

Our mother has been displaced, living with her daughter for over three years now, her independence shattered. With her income significantly reduced, she's even considering re-entering the workforce at her age, due to the strain of attempting to rebuild a home that she envisioned to be her sanctuary. Our hearts break every time we revisit the lot of the home we grew up in, now silent and abandoned. This has been a painful ordeal, especially knowing she is not the only victim of this fraudulent contractor.

How You Can Help:

We're asking for your help to raise $67,500 to:

To recoup the funds she has lost to the scammer.

Secure the necessary materials to begin restoring her home.

Hire competent and trustworthy professionals to undertake the construction.

Cover any unforeseen expenses related to salvaging what the contractor left behind.

We know times are tough for everyone, but even a small contribution can light up the darker corners of this ordeal. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this story. Visibility is as vital as donations to shed light on this situation to ensure he is unable to do this to more people.

Thank You:

Thank you for reading our story and considering support for our mother. She has always been the first to help others, and now she needs our help. Your generosity can help alleviate the injustice she’s endured and bring her one step closer to reclaiming her independence.

The Home Prior to Demo

Vision presented to the contractor for the remodel

The contractor that we were under contract with

Current State of the Home May 2024

Some of my Communications with Contractor

Some responses from the state