Clay Bremner holds son Charlie, 2, while Courtney Vreeman holds dog Benny. Son Cache, 3, is in front. The family is staying in Osoyoos while they wait for fires in Williams Lake to be brought under control so they can return home. (Richard McGuire photo)

A young family, who came to Osoyoos after fleeing the wildfires at Williams Lake, has received an outpouring of generosity from local residents and businesses.

Courtney Vreeman, her husband Clay Bremner, and young boys Cache, 3, and Charlie, 2, have been staying at the Sahara Courtyard Inn in Osoyoos as they anxiously await the chance to return home.

But while the Osoyoos community has stepped forward to assist the stranded family, Vreeman has started a project to help a family in Williams Lake that is even less fortunate.

Her family still has a home to go back to, but she’s making a “BC Strong” decal to raise money for a family that has lost its home to the fire.

Vreeman, who runs a home-based business making decals, T-shirts and other items, decided to base the decal on the “Alberta Strong” slogan used during last year’s major fires in Fort McMurray, Alta.

“I had my equipment with me, so I figured I could try and help from my hotel room and get as much done as I could while I was here,” said Vreeman.

She has a particular family in mind, but doesn’t want to name them until it’s a done deal.

So far, she’s raised more than $600, mainly through promoting the $10 decals on Facebook and is selling them through the New Leaf Tea and Gifts Café.

The family left Williams Lake back on July 9, even before residents there were forced to evacuate.

“It was very, very smoky and my kids were getting nosebleeds, so we actually left before the evacuation order,” said Vreeman. “We left when it was an alert.”

The family, along with their dog Benny, a Pomeranian-Chihuahua cross, then headed to Prince George, which was the only way they could go.

They then made their way down to Vernon, where Bremner has an aunt, before continuing to Osoyoos, where Vreeman’s father has a trailer.

There wasn’t room for the family in the small trailer, but her father managed to find them the motel room for two weeks.

“The Sahara is giving us a discount on our room and they’re letting us stay for two weeks,” said Vreeman. “It’s very unheard of to get two weeks in Osoyoos.”

But the generosity doesn’t stop there.

Good Karma Kitchen has been providing them with gift cards for breakfasts and other Osoyoos businesses and residents have also stepped forward.

Brenda Dorosz, one of three Osoyoos women running the Osoyoos Gift Cupboard, learned about the family through Facebook and also decided to help.

“They’re a very young family,” said Dorosz. “They seemed like they could really use some help, so I put the word out on Facebook. That was late Thursday night, and I delivered a whole bunch of stuff Saturday morning to them.”

Among the items donated by businesses and local residents were grocery cards, toys, restaurant vouchers, gasoline gift cards and activity cards to keep the young children entertained.

There were even treats for Benny, the dog.

“It was unbelievable,” said Dorosz. “Lots of toys, clothes. It was kind of overwhelming because they haven’t lost their home and they were able to pack some stuff and come, but they’re having to pay the motel and he can’t work, so it’s a huge cost for them.”

Dorosz said she and the other two women involved with the Gift Cupboard, Gaye Horn and Jen Shiels, often help those in need apart from the Gift Cupboard.

“It’s something we do,” she said, pointing to the generous response from others in the community.

Vreeman would of course rather be home, but if you have to end up anywhere, Osoyoos is a great place, she said.

“Osoyoos has been very friendly,” said Vreeman. “They’ve been amazing.”

Currently Williams Lake is still under evacuation and only emergency personnel can enter, she said, adding that the family hopes to be able to go home, perhaps in a week.

“If we have to be stuck anywhere, Osoyoos is the best option, because it’s amazing!” said Vreeman, who continues to sell the decals to raise money for a family worse off than her own.

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times