A 65-year-old homeless man is astounded by the generosity and support shown to him and his dog, Jake, in Williams Lake.
Up until last Saturday evening Brian Owen had been living in his pickup truck in city limits.
But when temperatures began dipping to near the -30 C mark and a Williams Lake resident and her husband expressed concern for his wellbeing on social media, a chain of events transpired resulting in him being housed in a local motel and being reunited with his half sister on Vancouver Island.
香蕉视频直播淚t wasn香蕉视频直播檛 something I was even remotely considering happening,香蕉视频直播� said Owen, who grew up and attended school in Williams Lake before moving away to the Lower Mainland for school in the 1970s.
香蕉视频直播淲hen Christine [Habsburg] and Marcel [Habsburg] showed up I had a certain amount I could maybe get a hotel room with and get a weekly rate for this cold spell. But they came along and said they香蕉视频直播檇 arranged to have a hotel room for a couple nights for me and I was blown away. I was reluctant to accept it at first.香蕉视频直播�
In the meantime, Christine香蕉视频直播檚 Facebook post went viral locally. Donations began pouring in which, by Tuesday afternoon, had reached above $1,700, along with clothing, groceries, meals and dog food.
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Owen香蕉视频直播檚 half sister living on Vancouver Island also saw the post, and reached out to Christine to see if he would be willing to come and live with her at her home.
香蕉视频直播淭he last time I saw her in person was 25 years ago,香蕉视频直播� Owen said.
香蕉视频直播淲e had talked in 2007 by phone, but that was the last time I香蕉视频直播檇 talked to her. She had lymphatic cancer and she didn香蕉视频直播檛 want to take the treatments. I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 sure if she would survive, but she did.香蕉视频直播�
Owen arrived in Williams Lake at the end of July from Alberta looking for work and a place to live, and said he always loved the area and considered it home.
While attempting to save money, on top of a small, reduced pension for some necessary repairs to the truck which he was living in, Owen was unsuccessful in finding work.
In early December the insurance on his truck expired.
香蕉视频直播淚 was looking for a place to rent, but with Jake we weren香蕉视频直播檛 able to get any subsidized housing,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭here were places, but they are $700 to $750 a month and on a $960 pension that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 leave much for anything else.香蕉视频直播�
Over the last six months Owen has been utilizing the Salvation Army for meals and showers, and the local library and thrift stores for books to keep him occupied.
Owen and his canine companion, an 11-year-old border collie, have been inseparable since Owen got him when he was a puppy in Calgary.
When he found out how much the community had donated to help him, he was in shock.
香蕉视频直播淣ow I just hope I can get my truck in to get repairs in the next couple of days and get to the Island to see my sister,香蕉视频直播� he said.
香蕉视频直播淚 just want to thank everyone so much,香蕉视频直播� he said.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 greatly appreciated, and I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 expecting so much. People have been coming down, dropping off food, clothes and things to help me get my truck back on the road to get down to my sister香蕉视频直播檚 place.香蕉视频直播�
Christine, meanwhile, said the community should be commended.
香蕉视频直播淓verybody香蕉视频直播檚 contributed above and beyond,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚 think he香蕉视频直播檚 a very proud man who has encountered some very unfortunate circumstances, and I香蕉视频直播檓 so glad we caught him at the beginning of this cold snap.香蕉视频直播�
Habsburg said the donated money will be used to repair the man香蕉视频直播檚 windshield, a fan and, possibly, brakes.
香蕉视频直播淎ll I did was state that a man needed warmth and all of these beautiful souls stepped up and made this small miracle possible,香蕉视频直播� she said.
香蕉视频直播淭hey deserve the credit for all of this. I香蕉视频直播檓 brought to tears at their kindness and generosity.香蕉视频直播�
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