An older couple’s nightmare has a happy ending because of the kindness of strangers.
Last Monday Jean and Wayne Bowerman were left homeless after an old Douglas Fir crashed through the RV they were living in at Shelter Bay Resort.
Four days later, the couple received an offer that changed their lives.
John and Heather Olney came across the Bowermans’ story in Friday’s Mirror and that same day, made a call that would help the Bowermans get back on their feet.
Heather Olney reached out to Jean Bowerman, and offered her the couple’s 26-foot long Travelaire trailer.
Olney said the trailer “was just sitting in the driveway and hadn’t been used in two years”, was still in good shape and came equipped with a microwave, fridge, oven – all the things the Bowermans would need to make it a home.
Bowerman accepted the trailer, and offered the Olneys some money.
“They wouldn’t take it,” she said.
The Olneys even drove the trailer from their home near Miracle Beach to the Bowerman’s new RV Park, 2100 Court on Campbell River Road just south of Haig Brown House.
Not only that, Bowerman said the Olneys filled the trailer with bedding, dishes, cutlery, a toaster, a kettle and other cooking utensils.
“I feel like I’ve won the lottery,” Bowerman said.
“That’s a big thing to give a stranger. I’m overwhelmed. Wayne’s freaking out. It’s been a crazy, crazy week.”
Since last Monday’s powerful wind storm, Bowerman said she hasn’t slept, worrying that other trees could come down, and reliving the accident.
It was 6:30 a.m. when Bowerman’s RV was destroyed by a tree that crushed the back end of her home. The tree fell into the kitchen where Bowerman’s husband had been standing only seconds before.
The trailer was not repairable and the couple had no insurance.
On Wednesday morning, the Bowermans packed up what they could salvage from their old trailer – some food, bedding, clothing, and a cell phone charger – and moved across town to 2100 Court where they were welcomed with open arms.
“Sue (King) the manager, gave us a couple of weeks rent free,” Bowerman said.
Similar acts of kindness have been coming in from strangers and friends all week, Bowerman said.
“Some people offered us money, a couple of people have offered us trailers and places to stay until we could get set up,” Bowerman said. “It’s been unreal.”
Last week, Bowerman said she could not believe how fast the tree had come down and taken her home. This week, Bowerman was overwhelmed to see how quickly things had turned around.
“It’s all happened in the blink of an eye. It’s been a roller coaster,” Bowerman said. “There are definitely some heroes.”