Help Tom, an unsung hero, rebuild .

Hi there, my name is Sophy and I am fundraising for Mr. Tom Prendergast.

Tom has lived in Carlisle for over 40 year and has been heavily involved in helping the homeless by volunteering his time and services in a rehabilitation program run by Michael Cullen and based at St Herbert church. The program feeds the homeless and assists to re-home them through the local authority and also helps furnish their new homes with white goods and furniture.

Tom has been collecting donated food stuff from local supermarkets for the feeding program. He also sources, stores and delivers donated essential household items to assist the newly re-homed.
 

Tom lost all his stored personal goods and items donated for the homeless in a huge fire that razed his yard based at willow Holme industrial estate on the 24th of April 2021. Firefighters battled the huge blaze but were unable to save the contents. All that's left of the yard now is a big pile of debris that needs to be cleared out and new storage units rebuilt to enable him continue his noble work.

The yard was insured but the contents were not therefore Tom is unlikely to get any compensation for the items that were destroyed  by the fire.

I met Tom in late 2019 while I was volunteering at The Gone To The Dogs Cafe in Carlisle. The rehabilitation program was conceived at this location but later moved to St. Herbert Church when the Cafe was forced to shut down during the Covid crisis. Tom remains an invaluable member of the team but his efforts remain hampered due to the loss of his yard. 

I feel strongly about helping Tom get back on his feet because I have also suffered personal tragedy and loss and received great help and support from Tom and Michael Cullen ,the community chef.

Tom has dedicated much of his time and energy into assisting the less fortunate members of this community and in this time of personal tragedy I am appealing to well wishers to kindly donate funds to help him clean up, rebuild his yard and carry on.

The funds will go towards;

- Clean up of the yard which is estimated to cost approximately £ 900

-Rebuilding 7 storage units. approximate costs per unit £900, total cost £6300

-Funds to replace the lost donated goods approximately £1800

-Miscellaneous, to replace any lost personal items, £1000

Any donations will be highly appreciated.