Want to hear a story that will restore your faith in humanity?
Lamar Harris is 39 years old and has lived his whole life in the same house in Gloucester Township, New Jersey. And now, he was in danger of losing the only home he’d ever known.
Lamar used to live in the house with his parents, brother, and grandmother. When his mother and grandmother died more than 25 years ago, he continued living there with his brother and father.
Tragedy struck when, in 2015, his father suffered a heart attack while shopping at a Shop Rite store. Six months later, Lamar’s brother also died, leaving him alone in the house with no family.
All would be well, except Lamar has developmental disabilities and delays in reading and writing. He also has the mental abilities of a pre-teen.
But while Lamar may live alone, he still has people who love him.
Lamar lives in a very tight-knit community where everyone takes care of each other – and Lamar takes care of everyone in the community as much as he can.
“I keep an eye on the houses, cut grass and take out the trash for my neighbors,” Lamar explained when asked how he contributes to his close-knit community in his spare time.
“He takes out people’s trash on Mondays. He brings the empty trashcans back in,” Michelle Bradbury, his neighbor, told NBC10. “If you are on vacation he will get your newspaper. He’ll get your mail.”
Lamar’s been dubbed the “Mayor of Cherry Circle” because of his kindhearted actions.
And in turn, the community also helps him, especially since his father and brother passed away. They’ve helped fix his house, and they also help him handle his finances, bills, and bank accounts. Unfortunately, they forgot about the taxes.
Before Lamar’s father died, he had already paid off the mortgage in their home because he wanted Lamar to be secure. But since Lamar didn’t understand finances and real estate tax, no taxes ha been paid since 2015 when his father had died.
His neighbors suspect that Lamar may have thrown away any possible tax bills because he had no idea what they were.
With years of unpaid taxes, the amount owed had ballooned to more than $50,000 – and now, Lamar had to pay the amount within two weeks or risk losing his home.
When the neighbors heard this news, they quickly sprang into action.
“Everyone says somebody has to help him,” Terri Fretz, another neighbor who created the GoFundMe page, said. “So I’m somebody. We’re all somebody.”
Lamar’s neighbors set up a GoFundMe page to ask for donations to help Lamar pay the $50,000 in taxes.
All the money raised would go to a bank account to help Lamar with these bills. If by chance he did lose his home, the money would be used to help him relocate.
One week after posting the GoFundMe, the neighbros had raised half of the amount needed.
Two days later, after NBC10 reported on the story, the community raised more than $55,000. Two weeks later, they had ultimately gathered more than $60,000 in donations.
Still, however, donations continue to pour in, and as of August 15, 2019, the community has raised more than $70,000 for Lamar.
“All donations that he continues to receive will be applied to Lamar’s future and current needs,” Terri Fretz said.
Tom Brake, one of Lamar’s neighbors who had been helping Lamar for the past couple of years, has also been helping him prepare for the future financially, along with Terri.
“We are trying to set up a financial plan for Lamar to help him pay and keep up with his taxes,” Tom Brake said. “We are still trying to raise more money so we can pay this year’s set of taxes as well.”
Terri has known Lamar for her whole life, and without him, she doesn’t think Cherry Hill would be the same.
Even the mayor has taken it upon himself to make sure Lamar is taken care of.
“We are compiling information as to the status of not only the property, but most importantly, the status and care of Mr. Lamar Harris,” Gloucester Township Mayor David Mayer wrote in a statement posted on the township’s Facebook page. “We will continue to research this matter to ensure the proper care of Mr. Harris.”
It’s still very much a good world out there when a community like Cherry Circle work together to save one of their own.
Watch the video below to see how much Lamar’s community loves him.
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