Raising the Roof: Help the Thomas Family Rebuild their Home

On July 12, 2022, an unusually strong storm, with winds clocked at over 100mph, swept through our tightly knit community in College Park, Maryland. Hundreds of the tallest and largest trees were uprooted and toppled. Some homes were destroyed or needed major reconstruction.

Our long-time neighbors, the Thomases, seemed to have been hit the hardest. Three trees fell on their home and garage. The family’s insurance covered only the balance of the mortgage, but not the extensive property repair.

Simultaneous with this dramatic event, Mr. Thomas, the breadwinner of the family, got diagnosed with aggressive cancer and cannot work anymore. His retired wife takes care of other family members; his daughter picks up odd jobs helping ends meet and to be flexible to drive her father to treatments.

Now, three years after the storm and having tried multiple venues for funding, they have not been able to get back on their feet. We, the neighbors, want to provide the family with a safe home protected from the elements. However, our collective efforts alone are not enough to raise funds for supplies.

The recent article in College Park Here and Now tells a broader story including an unprecedented act of human altruism. Chris Marshall, owner of North Star Companies, LLC, says he will fix the house by donating labor, some materials, and the design. The company, 84 Lumber will also donate some lumber, and an anonymous donor will assist with matching a share of the contributions. Our hope is that through GoFundMe good-hearted people will pitch in to help us “raise the roof” in the way our pioneer families engaged in community barn raising efforts. Thank you!