Support Debbie Davis: Car and Recovery Fund

If you love New Orleans music, you already love Debbie Davis. And if you even like New Orleans, you probably know how lethal our city's road "construction" can be. On the night of February 7, Debbie was driving to pick up family at work when the road literally gave out beneath her. A negligent construction crew left an unlit, unmarked, and unmanned drop of 9" smack in the middle of Desire Street. No signs warning about the surprise drop-off, no cones providing safe guidance for drivers, no alternate routes labeled...not so much as a cheap plastic cone in the middle of the road to signal a dip. While Debbie was safely driving below the speed limit, gravity exists. Her car fell nose-first into chewed up asphalt, totaling the front end. The impact deployed the airbags, smashing Debbie in the face and causing chemical burns across her face, neck, and chest. (That's not sunburn in the photo above. It's an injury Debbie did not bring upon herself.)

Debbie is theoretically "okay," but physically banged up, in pain, and suddenly without a vehicle or the funds to buy a new car.

Debbie's a working mother and musician financially responsible for one amazing high schooler and an elderly mother. The car was her only transit to both work and her son's school. It's a half-hour commute--one way--from Debbie's home to her wonderful kid's high school, and anywhere from 20-45 minutes to work depending on the venue. This means Uber/Lyft are catastrophically expensive on a daily basis, and not a sustainable solution.

ICYMI, the one-two-punch of January's attack and Super Bowl's corporate takeover in February has been brutal on New Orleans musicians and entertainment workers. Gigs have been scarce, locals have avoided even the most popular venues, and earnings worryingly low for weeks on end. The coffers are empty, and unlikely to refill until April's "festival economy" kicks in.

Debbie is a notorious giver and community worker. Her car is used to shuttle not just children and family, but numerous disabled and low-income members of the local music community. She runs people in need to and from rehearsals, jets off to Walgreens to pick up friends' vital medications, and has been known to drive across multiple parishes just to solve some other broke artist's costume or performance crisis. If you've ever seen her perform with The Coven, you already know she's a banshee for the downtrodden and underserved. If you've ever seen her perform with greats like Josh Paxton, Alex McMurray, or Paul Sanchez, you know she's devoted decades to carrying the torch for New Orleans culture.

In short, Debbie has paid into the karmic bank account in tangible ways for years. (This doesn't even count all those unpaid fundraiser performances to raise money for New Orleans cultural institutions.) Let's spin the wheel back in her favor, and pool our resources so she can get to work, her kid can get to school, and we can all feel a little less horrified by the relentless unfairness of the world around us.

All funds will be used to help Debbie get a new set of wheels, and ensure her very fantastic high schooler gets to class on time. (He needs to keep the scholarship he's earned to undergrad in the fall.) This fundraiser is brought to you by Debbie's sisters in The Coven, so you can rest assured 100% of every penny is going directly to Debbie.