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October 2026 - A New Chapter for the Davis Family
3 days ago
3 min read
Standing Alongside a Family in a Difficult Season
Mr. and Mrs. Davis have called their Milwaukie home their own for the past 16 years, where they are raising their two children. In recent years, their family has faced significant personal and medical challenges.
Mrs. Davis has undergone five brain surgeries, several of which resulted in serious complications and infections. Throughout this difficult season, Mr. Davis has taken on a substantial caregiving role while continuing to work tirelessly to support his family. These ongoing challenges have made it difficult for the family to find the time and resources needed to address critical repairs at home.
From a Leaking Roof to Lasting Protection
Catalyst first came alongside the Davis family in February 2026, after they reached out about active leaks in several areas of their roof. Volunteers installed a temporary tarp to stop water from entering the home while we evaluated the damage. It quickly became clear that a full roof replacement was necessary.
In August, we returned to replace the roof, helping ensure the family had a safe, secure home before the coming rainy season.
A New Deck—and an Unexpected Blessing
For this project, Catalyst returned to replace a poorly constructed deck that had become a serious safety hazard. The Davis family now has a beautiful new deck—a safe place to gather, rest, and enjoy for many years to come.
During the project, our team discovered that the sliding glass door leading to the deck had not worked properly in more than five years. To access the deck, the family had to go outside and walk around through the backyard. One of our volunteers, a retired handyman, saw the need and immediately stepped in. Before long, the door was working again.
It was a wonderful reminder of the heart our volunteers bring to every project: they often see needs beyond the original scope of work and generously use their skills to bless a neighbor.
Caring for the Whole Home
In addition to building the new deck, volunteers completed several other repairs and improvements around the property:
Painted the new barge rafters installed during the roof replacement
Painted the roof eaves to match the home after plywood replacement left areas exposed
Scraped and repainted the front door and trim
Installed a digital deadbolt to improve home security
Removed a significant amount of organic yard debris
Removed piles of junk and other debris from the property
Repaired an exterior stair railing that was no longer functioning properly
Over three days, 68 volunteer shifts were filled, contributing an incredible 313 volunteer hours to complete this project.
More Than a Project
We could not serve our community without the faithfulness, hard work, and generosity of our volunteers. Every hour they give represents a willingness to show up, use their talents, and care for a neighbor. Thank you to every volunteer who helped make this project possible.
While we are grateful to have completed these critical repairs, the most meaningful part of this work has been deepening our relationship with the Davis family. They are not simply Catalyst clients—they have become family. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue walking alongside them and reminding them that they are not alone.
Project Stats and Partners:
Volunteers: 68
Volunteer Hours: 313
River West Church – Provided volunteer support
Project photos
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