A woman says she was left heartbroken after a widower revealed to her that he had eaten a Creme Egg for his Christmas dinner. Vicky Prendergast, 34, vowed to help turn the man's life around after hearing his tragic tale, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The 34-year-old says she bumped into the stranger earlier this week whilst out shopping in Liverpool. She claims that she was walking past a chip shop on January 4 when a man approached.
The stranger, named Dave, told Vicky his sorrowful tale about losing his wife and son in a car crash last year. Dave also revealed that he lost his job as a lorry driver, which had been his career for 30 years.
He asked the 34-year-old if she could buy him a cone of chips as he had not eaten for two days. Vicky says she was saddened to hear his story but was also aghast that no one else was interested.
She said: "It just goes to show you that not everybody is trying to con you, some people do have a story if you are willing to listen to them. Loads of people were just ignoring him when he was trying to speak, and I thought 'what's a cone of chips to me'.
"He told me he hadn't eaten in two days because he had his money sanctioned by the job centre. He only had a Creme Egg to eat on Christmas Day.
"I took his details and said I would bring him some food the next day. I couldn't sleep after hearing his story."
Vicky then visited the man's home yesterday and says he had nothing in the cupboards and no furniture in the house except for an old camping bed. The 34-year-old decided to take to social media to ask people if they had any food, clothes or furniture they would be able to donate to Dave.
Vicky added: "I had loads of messages, I'm still trying to go through them all now. People were offering food, furniture, a fridge freezer, clothes and everything, we [Vicky and her partner] spent all day picking everything up for him.
"When we came with the van he couldn't stop crying, he was so genuine and grateful for everything we did for him. It really does show you how much Liverpool really does look after it's own.
"He has absolutely nothing and we have turned it into an actual home for him. We have more things to go and collect tomorrow."
Vicky has organised for a charity to come out and see Dave today, where they will deliver him some food and discuss his next steps and help set up benefits for him. Vicky has also written down all of his qualifications and is trying to help find him a job.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
