Support Donna Harris in Rebuilding Her Home

I'm Deb Drager, personal friend to Donna Harris and artist-friend to her only daughter, Cathy Leigh-Harris-Lamb, https://www.facebook.com/cathyleigh.lamb.

What started in July 2023 was a project to update the family home of the Harris'. It was to be a $3,000 job to improve the little patio and deck, starting with the stairs up to the 2nd floor and a covered metal roof. These stairs lead to a bedroom upstairs. The patio was a safe space that Donna and her disabled son, David and Cathy would meet and enjoy limited family time. They hired (who they thought was a respectable local contractor) and so the job began...Cathy was gone that week painting with me on a mural project and when she returned, she was stunned to face the news that this contractor had taken $9,000 from her mom. Not only was the work his 2 employees did unacceptable, but after reaching out, even this contractor himself agreed the work was bad, that he overcharged, and even created MORE damage to the structure of Donnas home! This contractor stalled for weeks assuring them he would make it right and in the meantime, more damage was happening due to newly created leaks. Due to many false promises, the Harris family decided to take this issue to small-claims-court! As more months go by, and this area of the home was deemed "UNSAFE" by other contractors, they tried to work with this contractors his attorney from January 2024 (including dealing with the insurance AND 4 court continuances) This contractor wouldn’t agree to make this right, so even his first attorney walked away and started over with another attorney, which stalled this process even more!! Donna was 86 when this started. Now, as I am writing this, Donna is 88 years old and has suffered stress and emotional trauma from this ongoing battle of injustice and what I consider "ELDER-ABUSE"! The family has spent unmeasurable hours with the legal end, numerous hours with others in the construction business discussing how to replace the damage with bids ranging from $15 - 25,000. Donna's only grandson who lives hours away has taken dozens of hours of vacation to come support his family at 3 of the court appointments.

The court situation finally recently happened and the Judge's verdict was to put a 'lien on this contractors insurance' ...we'll see how that pans out?

As Donnas home continues to decline due to his damage and so much time.

Not only do they not have this safe space, the stairs and deck are left dangerous...poor Donna has the worry that someone could be seriously injured leaving her in a situation to be sued. Even her own grandson said he would not put one foot on those steps!

July 2023 to now, November 2024

This family has LOST precious time, health, and so many other costs in rescheduling appointments due to the court postponements! They have lost 2 summers and autumns of gathering on this sweet deck area! Donna and Cathy have been so consumed and beat-down from this ordeal, the attention, care and help with David and his PCA were delayed 'til “after court” again & again.

David Harris was found dead on October 17th.

Cathy wrote me recently; "My disabled brother got left behind as we continued to deal with postponements and this abusive situation. He deserved so much more."

And, as I close this story of abuse and neglect, Donna Harris had to scrape together $3000 to have a proper closing for her only son! I appeal to your hearts and your pocketbooks to please help this family get back on their feet! If by chance the insurance company steps up, then they will have some funds to repair more things that dear old house needs! After all, THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME!

The were brave, courageous, wise and ever so patient, but folks, they need our help!

respectfully, Deb