Boston Bar resident selflessly distributes hundreds of Instant air purifiers in Hope, Fraser Canyon after recent wildfires

Thomspon secured space at Food Bank Storage and at Family Place for the 1,870 Instant air purifiers that were donated to Boston Bar, a small community of 166, and the surrounding the community. Instant Brands arranged to transport the donated units from a Vancouver warehouse directly to Family Place in Boston Bar. Instant Brands is the company that makes Instant Pot and Pyrex.

“This included delivery from 4 trucks over 2 days and drivers who helped me unload and store the 1,800 air purifiers,” said Thomspon, who works as a Family Place Family Navigator and as a food bank coordinator. “Sometimes it is hard to find people that are able to help with large deliveries like this, so I was very grateful for their assistance.”

Of the 5,600 air purifiers donated by Instant Brands, 1,870 went to Boston Bar and the surrounding area. The other 3,470 units went directly to the First Nations Health Authority.

Once the air purifiers were secured and stored, Thompson had to devise a plan to distribute them accordingly.

“Leveraging my contacts through Family Place, I reached out and let them know about the donated air purifiers and that they were available for pick up,” Thompson said. “Through social media, email, phone and text, I provided these communities with dates and times to pick up the units they requested.”

A total of 920 units were distributed to representatives of Boston Bar, Boston Bar First Nations, Boston Bar Fire Department, Boothroyd, Spuzzum, Yale First Nations, Yale Fire Department, Yale, Lytton First Nations, the Village of Lytton, and Chilliwack.

Image: Supplied by Instant Brands / Recipients of the air purifiers following the recent wildfires in Fraser Canyon.

Because this is something that I took on outside of my job responsibilities, everything from arranging and being onsite for pickups was all done in my ‘extra’ time,” Thomspon said. “And while this meant taking away from time spent with my family and small children, I saw it as an opportunity to teach my young children a valuable lesson on why volunteering and helping your community is so important. I want them to understand the value of volunteering, so they help their neighbors whenever they can.”

The response from the community she worked to bring air purifiers to has been fantastic, Thompson said.

“I am already hearing how thankful people are, how these air purifiers are changing their breathing and lives,” Thompson said. “That just makes my heart happy. That is why I do this. I have been in Boston Bar for almost 6 years and it is our home, and where we will be for very long time. It is where we raise our kids, where we teach them values. I would do anything for this town, our home, if it was needed. Anything. Anytime. I add this newest endeavour to a long list of volunteerism. I like to keep busier than busy. In the future I will continue to say yes, and do anything to support our home and surrounding communities because when you live this rural, you are attached in some way, shape or form to outlying communities, First Nations and Small Villages.”

by Mike Vanden Bosch

Boston Bar resident selflessly distributes hundreds of Instant air purifiers in Hope, Fraser Canyon after recent wildfires

More Local News