The home of Dirrell Harper continues to take shape and is running ahead of schedule this week.
“I know we got help from above on this one,” said volunteer organizer Mike Melcher. “It’s just clicking right along.”
Volunteers, led by Tony Fry, planned to begin taping and texturing Monday, Melcher said, after a crew from Beaverton hung sheetrock last week, and a good friend of Melcher’s, who wanted to remain anonymous, paid for the drywall.
The project still needs $1,500 to pay for trusses and about 10 more yards of cement at $65 each. Other needs include doors and decorations, such as curtains. Melcher plans to order siding this week, but the cost hasn’t been covered yet.
The siding will start going up this week, he said.
The project started four weeks ago, Melcher said, and it is running at least two weeks ahead of schedule.
He believes Harper will be able to move in by the first of October.
A group of community volunteers led by Melcher and Ron Moore are building a new home for Harper, whose home was damaged during a storm in early June when a tree fell on his singlewide manufactured home, located near Kalmia and 35th Avenue.
Harper is mostly confined to a wheelchair; and even if it had been repaired, his home would have posed problems and was not suitable for his disabilities.
Rather than using insurance money for repairs, volunteers used it to help build a new house. It was about $10,000. Volunteers and donors are making up the difference for the new house, which is estimated to cost $60,000.
Key Bank is accepting donations in Harper’s name.
For further information, contact Melcher, 409-1516, or Moore, 409-4366.