Never before did Lance feel so alone.
For years the 77-year-old woke up every morning cold, shivering under layers of blankets. His shelter was his truck, but it was hardly a home.
With just a bowl in the back to wash in and no place to keep food fresh, he started to understand why people who experience homelessness become so emotionally defeated.
91裸聊视频淚 can see how people get down, how they get so low,91裸聊视频� said Lance. 91裸聊视频淲hen you get down, you don91裸聊视频檛 give a damn. You don91裸聊视频檛 care. You really don91裸聊视频檛 care about anything. All you want is a way out.91裸聊视频�
And now, thanks to the generosity of thousands of strangers, Lance has a way out.
By request, his full name is being withheld due to privacy.
Being alone for that long taught him something 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 okay to receive help from strangers. It also taught him the value of a good book.
91裸聊视频淵ou turn around and get a great respect for other people, for their concern for you. And if they91裸聊视频檙e concerned for you, what can you do about it? Well, you can do the best you can. And you have to turn around and learn to accept, and say thank you afterwards,91裸聊视频� said Lance.
Lance91裸聊视频檚 story has touched many lives.
When his kind face and warm demeanour was broadcast on national news earlier in the year, it tugged on many hearts 91裸聊视频� not just because they saw an older man without a roof over his head, but because of something he said: 91裸聊视频淚 admitted to myself, and I admitted on TV, that I put myself in this rotten position.91裸聊视频�
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A new beginning
A resident of Kelowna since 1949, a variety of family circumstances left Lance without a home. These circumstances, he said, are very personal.
In a past life, Lance was an engine mechanic, working for an engine manufacturing company in Detroit, Mich.
He also worked for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as a ship91裸聊视频檚 officer.
A car crash on the Coquihalla ended his career. Many times when living like this he was hit with $100 fines for sleeping in his truck. However, one year ago when he approached a church to ask if he could park his truck in their parking lot, he got far more than he expected.
Sherrallea King, a caretaker at a Kelowna church, showed compassion and let him park behind the building.
From there, a lifelong friendship was born. Multiple times a day she checks on Lance, bringing him food and clothing.
91裸聊视频淪herrallea has been an absolute godsend for me,91裸聊视频� said Lance.
One morning in October, Lance awoke to find he could hardly move his right arm or his fingers. He had suffered a stroke. He spent three weeks in the hospital, but when he got out, he couldn91裸聊视频檛 drive. King offered to take him where he needed to go until he regained movement in his arm.
Since he started experiencing homelessness, Lance has found blessings in many unexpected places. He recently returned to a local dry cleaner to pick up his clothes, and the owner had paid for his cleaning. Someone even paid for the insurance on his truck.
The community has been bringing him necessities such as food and gasoline, but one gift he holds dear 91裸聊视频� new friendships.
For the first time in years, Lance has a warm bed to sleep in. He is temporarily being housed by an individual who opened up his home to the senior.
Asked to identify the hardest part, and the best part, about living this way, Lance jumped to the positive. When he learned to accept his actions, Lance said he began to accept himself, and come to terms with the fact he is doing the best he can.
Story continues below.
Support from across the nation
When he first started living in his truck, Lance was still receiving some money from his pension. When strangers offered to help financially, he would politely thank them but refuse. Now, with online fundraisers launched in his name, he91裸聊视频檚 overwhelmed.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 kind of befuddling. It91裸聊视频檚 something I never expected in my life. It91裸聊视频檚 a bit emotional; it91裸聊视频檚 a lot of pride.91裸聊视频�
The last payment for his truck is next month. The money donated from the community will help him become debt-free, and get into a small apartment.
91裸聊视频淭he biggest problem I have right now though is not knowing who to thank, or how to thank so many people. How do you thank everybody? You can91裸聊视频檛. Because most of them (online) are anonymous.91裸聊视频�
King said Lance91裸聊视频檚 story speaks to a larger issue of people this age not receiving the support they need. She said Lance91裸聊视频檚 situation isn91裸聊视频檛 as rare as one might think.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 a real family man, a real grandpa, and (those are) the people who shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be falling down into that pit91裸聊视频� Everybody has grandmas and grandpas, and I think that91裸聊视频檚 the group we need to be looking out for.91裸聊视频�
To donate to Lance or help in any way, contact Sherrallea King at 250-878-7153, or email her at sherrallea.king@gmail.com.
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