Stranger donates late father's tools to mechanic after devastating Kamloops-area house fire
A heavy-duty mechanic who lost his home, workshop and tools in a devastating fire near Kamloops on Christmas Eve was gifted with replacement tools by a kind stranger who read the tragic story.
Fred Zenowski has been living in his mobile home in Pinantan for two decades. He shared the home with his younger son and mother who has dementia and supported his family as a mechanic. He lost everything the accidental fire on Dec. 24.
“Everything was burned down in two hours,” Fred’s son Michael said. His father didn’t have fire insurance.
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When Vancouver resident Julie Hajduk read the story she reached out to iNFOnews.ca and was connected with Michael. She passed along a large tool box full of an assortment of tools and many other items belonging to her father, a retired heavy-duty mechanic, who had recently died.
“My papa would be thrilled that his beloved tools are going to another mechanic in need,” she told iNFOnews.ca. “(Michael’s) grandpa and my dad were the same age and both immigrants so I saw some kinship there. Coming from a family that came over and started from nothing it felt right to give to another similar family, it’s about helping each other along in life.”
Fred said he just received the tools from Julie the other day.
“Everything is older, it was her father’s stuff,” he said. “There are lots of good things and older stuff you can’t replace anymore. It’s been really eye-opening seeing people reaching out to help.”
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A massive cleanup of the burned property is well under way thanks to the help of locals who are offering household items. Michael is receiving thousands of dollars in donations to go toward a new home for the family.
He said he can never fully express his gratitude for everyone’s generosity.
“I met Julie in person, she's a kind and wonderful lady,” he said. "We have so much amazing support from so many people. It feels like my dad is beginning to have hope for the future again and that means everything to me.”
Fred grew up in Kamloops and admits he’s not a sociable guy. He said the ordeal has been difficult and he's keeping busy and trying not to dwell on the loss. The support from his community gives him “a light at the end of the tunnel.”
“I’m not sure how to say thank you for something like this, everywhere I go people have been kind and supportive,” he said. “I have boxes of donated clothes and things."
He’s working to get a mobile home moved onto the property but needs help moving it and winter weather could delay the progress.
Go here to donate and read updates on the family’s rebuilding process.
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