OUT OF THE COLD
George Moffatt’s dark days are over, thanks to an overwhelming community response to a story that chronicled months in his trailer park home without power or heat.
George Moffatt’s home, filled with care packages from near and far, has life again.
After falling behind on his bills, the 77-year-old Regina man went five months with no heat or power, leaving him in a harrowing mental and physical state.
His story was made public by the Leader-post in September, and since then, Moffatt has received an outpouring of community support — including care packages arriving from as far away as Vancouver and Ontario.
After an arduous back-and-forth with government agencies, the utilities were turned back on at the end of September.
“I’m getting to the point where I don’t want to wake up, just lay back and call it quits,” he said back then, when he was cold and alone with only four walls, his dog Kricket and visits from his neighbour Don Kezama fending off total loneliness.
Rather than sitting unshaven and sunken in a recliner, covered in blankets, Moffatt now sits up, fresh faced and smiling.
“I’m starting to feel more human now, I just thank the people of Regina that helped me,” he said Friday. “It’s just overwhelming.”
Shortly after sharing his story publicly, Moffatt says every time he turned around, someone else was at his door.
“It did bring a lot of faith back. I was ready to give up and that there. And when everything started, holy smokes!”
He now has “enough food for Kricket for at least three years,” he said, and new clothes and cupboards full of food for himself.
“I’ve got three containers full. I can’t put anything in the cupboards because it’s so filled up. I’ve been eating as much as I can.”
Kezama lives a few steps away from Moffatt, and is the one who refused to give up on his neighbour, doing everything he could to help.
Earlier this fall, he explained more than once how he was “worried (Moffatt’s) going to freeze to death.”
On Friday, he said the warm community response has given him “faith in the human race again.”
A dose of that faith came from a woman who brought over some food for Moffatt — and also ended up inviting him over for a Thanksgiving meal.
“It was amazing, and she checks back once in a while to see how I’m doing,” he said. “I appreciate that.”
A local contractor brought over a new carpet for Moffatt, while his internet and cable provider waived his overdue bill. Through the internet, he has been able to connect with family.
Although Moffatt is in notably better spirits, he still has low moments.
“Back when I had no power and that, I was a nobody. And there are times I feel still right now that I’m still a nobody, and I’d like to be somebody,” he said. “Now that people come over and talk to me — spending just a few minutes talking, asking how things are going — I feel OK. I’m finally becoming somebody.”
“And then suddenly (that feeling) goes away and I’m back to nobody again. I just don’t like that. I’ll have to suffer with that part.”