Group raises money to fix house struck by tree

Friends and family of Kathy Waldal, whose Vancouver house was badly damaged during Saturday’s windstorm, have set up a donation account to try to help her.

Waldal was weeks away from putting her house, 4816 N.E. 117th St., on the market when a large section of a poplar tree toppled onto the two-story house.

On top of paying her insurance deductible of $6,000, Waldal also needs to have the rest of her dying poplar trees removed, which is estimated to cost $15,000, her niece Lisa Somero said.

An avid motorcyclist, Waldal has mentioned selling her bike to help cover the unexpected costs, Somero said. Somero said that Waldal, who is widowed, tried to have the trees removed a few years ago but fell victim to a scam in the process.

“She is such a giving, loving person for this stuff to keep happening,” Somero said. “Hopefully she doesn’t have to sell that last love of her life.”

Friends of Waldal hope to raise $19,000 through the donation page.