On Sunday May 2nd, Lyle Defoe lost everything. The longtime Clearwater resident watched his home burn to the ground.

Now the community is rallying behind the 85 year old to try and help keep a roof over his head and some food on his plate.

Speaking on NL Newsday, long time friend Rob Roy says the support he’s received has been heart warming. “Lyle is all there mentally and we are so happy he made it out of the fire. He is devastated about losing everything. It’s his entire life, but you know he is going to carry on.”

“A person doesn’t realize how much we are connected to simple material things until you lose everything. Like he’s got nothing at all. His place was used in shooting the movie Deepwater when it was shot in Clearwater. I was telling him that I was watching his place on the video and he says ‘well I still haven’t seen that yet’ and I said, well do you got a DVD player and I can lend it to you? And he says ‘give your head a shake I don’t have anything.'”

Roy says an online fundraiser has helped to provide Lyle with some food and shelter and he is hoping to see the support continue. “You know, Lyle was really, it really got him in the heart when he learned he had so much support in the community. And I think it is great that people have been helping out.”

“Lyle is someone who would help anybody. He isn’t prejudice or judgmental towards anybody. I mean the thing about Lyle is if he didn’t like you would know it. So he is a pretty good character. I would say he needs help. I am offering any help I can give and I would like to see people get together and help him out… He helps the under privileged single parents, people who can’t afford things he has always had. It’s just who Lyle is.”

The gofundme page has so far raised about $3,500. The goal now stands at $5,000 after it quickly surpassed the initial goal of $2,000.

You can hear the full conversation between Rob Roy and Jeff Andreas on NL Newsday below.

(Photos from Facebook)