A couple, accompanied by their cat, and traveling from Chilliwack to Calgary on the way to new beginnings were recently met with tragedy when their RV incinerated, leaving them stranded in Boston Bar.
Struggling to get help and to find a way to pay expenses that were quickly piling up from the accruement of a variety of assistance services; which, included towing services and supplies from the Boston Bar Kal Tire — the distraught couple eventually found their way to Hope.
The pair arrived at The Hope Standard, visibly shaken and spoke of their harrowing ordeal. It was the advent of Thanksgiving weekend, and the couple though traumatized reported that people in Hope were friendly and had stepped in to lend a hand.
“The people at the Hidden Treasures Thrift Store (Hope Community Services) were amazing, and gave me this jacket and some new hiking boots,” said Kara Lee Armstrong, of a new winter jacket and a solid pair of boots donated by the non-profit organization.
“We lost everything in the fire — all my daughter’s stuff was in that RV,” she said tearfully.
As the couple continued to describe the heart wrenching details of their ordeal — they began to visibly brighten. In fact, they started to beam about the manner in which a variety of local emergency services had extended their support during a trying and devastating time.
“We want to start a new life and then this happens, but at least we have each other,” said Edward Gray Stacey.
“We want to thank the people of Hope for helping us out in a way that we haven’t been helped since this whole thing started — we feel lucky to be alive and just knowing that people care is a big help.”
The couple were invited to enjoy Thanksgiving in town, and were connected with the proper channels to help support them in their journey to a new life.
With smiles on their faces the pair left — new hiking boots and all.
“We may even get a chance to get to the Othello tunnels now,” said Stacey.