Wayne McFadden checks out a Winnebago motorhome he was able to purchase after Kim Cameron started an online fundraiser for the homeless senior that has collected more than $17,000 so far.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Lois Wager
April 27, 2021 - 3:54 PM
What a difference a week can make.
Wayne McFadden and his dog Singer went public last week with concerns about his stay at Penticton’s Compass Court emergency shelter.
The 65-year-old moved out because drug use, noise, theft and other concerns, preferring instead to sleep rough along the Okanagan River channel.
But concerned citizen Kim Cameron, who met Wayne some time ago outside Penticton Walmart, saw more than just a homeless person.
“He is a beautiful human. I told him how much the people in Penticton talk about him and want to be there for him,” she wrote on the GoFundMe she set up for him last Monday. “When I asked Wayne if there was one thing you could have what would it be? he answered, 'a camper van,'” Cameron wrote.
READ MORE: Penticton man says camping rough is better than homeless shelter
Cameron was able to report yesterday, April 26, the page had raised $17,946 – and Wayne has found himself a motorhome. Cameron's original goal for the page was to raise $9,000 for McFadden.
“Thank you to all the people in our communities who helped in making this happen in seven days. I never dreamed this possible and yet here we are. I cannot tell you how proud I am to be a part of such a caring community,” Cameron wrote.
Other donations to Wayne included gift cards, a quilt and coffee for life.
He also has money to pay for veterinary attention for Singer.
Cameron said Wayne has agreed to help others with his fundraising page, donating all proceeds beyond $18,000. She has formed a team that will be moving forward with plans to help others in need.
“I am so proud to be a person living in this community. And thank you for trusting me and moving this forward. Thank you to all of you,” she wrote.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to tips@infonews.ca and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2021