An 87-year-old woman described as a 害羞草研究所減risoner害羞草研究所� in her own home has a bunch of strangers to thank for her newfound freedom.

Monday morning under the watchful eyes of two members of the RCMP害羞草研究所檚 targeted enforcement unit, a small motorhome was towed from the driveway of the Okanagan Avenue house starting a new chapter in the senior害羞草研究所檚 life.

Ron, who asked his last name not be used and who has close ties to the woman, smiled and breathed a sigh of relief as he photographed the vehicle leaving, something he has wanted to see for a long time.

For the past several years Ron said the elderly woman害羞草研究所檚 son had been living in the motorhome, most recently with a female companion and a dog, all the while accumulating a massive amount of items of every description which completely filled the small yard and outbuilding.

After many complaints to the city, bylaw services became involved and eventually issued a clean up order which is when the work on the weekend was arranged.

And while numerous truckloads were removed over the two days, much more remains.

害羞草研究所淭owards the end she couldn害羞草研究所檛 even get out of her house to go to a doctor害羞草研究所檚 appointment,害羞草研究所� said Ron, shaking his head at the memories of the turmoil the lady went through while trying to get her son, who was also at the house Monday, to move.

Compounding the problem were the many 害羞草研究所渦nsavoury害羞草研究所� characters that began visiting the property at all hours of the day and night.

害羞草研究所淭he address here has come to our attention just because it害羞草研究所檚 a gathering place for a lot of people in the city, some of our clients that we deal with on a regular basis are frequenting this address on a regular basis,害羞草研究所� said RCMP Cpl. Scott Vanevery at the scene Monday. 害羞草研究所淲e were alerted to it and decided to come out. We害羞草研究所檙e here today to make sure everyone害羞草研究所檚 moving along and keep the peace.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a Facebook group (Penticton Shoplifters and Thieves - Exposed) that害羞草研究所檚 recognized this property as a problem residence and they wanted something done about and it appears they did a good job.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a total effort of a community to clean up a property.害羞草研究所�

It was on that same Facebook page that Jana Huolt saw a picture of the residence that was called the 害羞草研究所淜FC house害羞草研究所� because of it害羞草研究所檚 proximity to the nearby restaurant.

害羞草研究所淚 realized it was the house belonging to the grandmother of a child my husband and I adopted many years ago. We raised her granddaughter as our own child,害羞草研究所� said Huolt, who used to live in Penticton and now calls Oliver home.

She then contacted Jake Evans, one of the facilitators of the Facebook group, and the pair came up with a plan of action to begin cleaning up the property which meant moving the motorhome and its occupants to a new location (thought to be on Edmonton Avenue).

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 over. The trailer is gone. I spent time with her (home owner) yesterday (Sunday) and I spent time with her on the phone this morning when the tow truck was there and she sounded very upbeat, I could hear the relief in her voice that she can now go outside and enjoy her yard safely,害羞草研究所� said Huolt. 害羞草研究所淚 sincerely hope that group of people (the vagrants) knows there is no gathering place there now, there is no junk piles at the home any more. There should be no one on that property. It needs to be a safe haven for the home owner.害羞草研究所�

Ron agreed: 害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 had to put up with this for a long time so this is like a weight off her shoulders, she害羞草研究所檚 free again, she can start living life again.

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 so grateful for what everyone has done and she just can害羞草研究所檛 figure out how to say thank you to everybody in the proper fashion.害羞草研究所�

Huolt was amazed of the 害羞草研究所渙verwhelming害羞草研究所� support she received after putting out the request on her Facebook page for volunteers for the weekend clean up.

害羞草研究所淢y chat is just full of messages, people offering to help, coming forward wanting to paint the house, beautify the yard,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檝e offered to cook meals, wash windows, they害羞草研究所檙e just so glad the situation is coming to a close. People like to be a part of something good.

害羞草研究所淓ven people driving by as we were loading, giving us the thumbs up and hollering out their window, 害羞草研究所榞ood job, it害羞草研究所檚 nice to see this being done.害羞草研究所� It is such a wonderful experience. I can害羞草研究所檛 even find the words to say the empathy that people have for an elderly person in that situation. They害羞草研究所檝e just stepped up and I害羞草研究所檝e met so many wonderful people from Penticton.害羞草研究所�

Chris Kozlowski was one of them.

害羞草研究所淚 met the person who lives here and she害羞草研究所檚 a nice lady, she害羞草研究所檚 had a hard go of it but hopefully things will get better,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 just wanted to help out, I do that for other people. They call me and I come.害羞草研究所�

Meanwhile Huolt plans to continue working through this weekend and still needs a few more volunteers with trucks and others to load and unload the vehicles at the house and at the landfill.

Just how much more work will be done on the property has yet to be determined but there is one thing she wants to happen.

害羞草研究所淚 would like to see that lady feel safer in her own home, not a prisoner, and I would like to see the home restored to the beautiful flower gardens that it was,害羞草研究所� said Huolt. 害羞草研究所淪omeplace where the lady can enjoy her coffee in the morning sunshine.害羞草研究所�

Anyone wishing to help can private message Huolt through her Facebook page.

害羞草研究所淲hat害羞草研究所檚 happened here might be a real eye opener,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭hat this can be successfully done if someone else is in a similar situation. There害羞草研究所檚 nothing like community support if an elderly person needs help. I don害羞草研究所檛 think it needs to stop at one person, it needs to be ongoing.害羞草研究所�