According to the GoFundMe, Michael O'Shea has been in temporary quarantine after being diagnosed with COVID-19. The organizers are hoping to keep him warm as the weather gets colder.

(MIKE MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)

A fundraiser is underway for a well-known Kamloops man who is looking for a warm place to stay this winter.

Michael O'Shea has been in quarantine at a local hotel due to COVID-19, according to the GoFundMe, and the organizers want to support him once he has left the hotel where he is currently staying.

The fundraiser has a $1,000 goal to support O'Shea.

The organizers say he was diagnosed with COVID-19 and was under quarantine at a Kamloops hotel. He is scheduled to be cleared to leave isolation today, Feb. 9, provided an evaluation is passed.

READ MORE: How a Kamloops man with nothing gives so much back to his community

"I would love to be able to raise money for Michael and provide him a warm place to stay and food in his tummy with out having to stress and be cold during these difficult times," the organizers said on the page.

They are hoping they can help him with a hotel room for a few weeks or rent for a basement suite.

The well-known local figure has gathered a reputation over the years for being supportive and generous. He's known to ask for very little and give what he can to someone in need.

This time, the people of Kamloops have decided to give back to O'Shea and are showing enough support to at least extend his stay in a warm bed while the February cold snap continues. One hour after the fundraiser was started, it had already raised $730 toward the $1,000 goal.

READ MORE: Cold weather fills Kamloops's homeless shelters to capacity

While O'Shea might leave his quarantine today, the Memorial Arena shelter is set to be expanded today.

The expansion adds 50 beds to the temporary curling club shelter that's already reached capacity. As the weather warms, Kamloops CMHA told iNFOnews they do not anticipate the shelters to remain at full capacity, but the temporary beds will be helpful for those seeking to escape the cold snap.

If you'd like to make a donation, go to the GoFundMe page here.

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