A volunteer group needs the community鈥檚 help after their truck died while hauling garbage out of the backcountry.
Okanagan Forest Task Force (OFTF) founder Kane Blake said they were hauling garbage, including abandoned vehicles, out of the backcountry throughout the day on April 6 when the truck gave out.
鈥淲e weren鈥檛 doing it all in one shot, so we were doing a couple of trips from the bush then pulling out the cars that have been there for probably well over a year,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e were taking the cars to ABC Recycling, and on our last trip, the truck decided it was done for the day.鈥�
Blake said he鈥檚 hoping the truck isn鈥檛 done for good, but to get it fixed, he鈥檚 asking for some help.
鈥淚t鈥檚 currently sitting in my driveway. I鈥檝e paid for all the fuel and the maintenance with my own money, never with donations. And right now, I have no money anymore.鈥�
鈥淵es, this is my personal truck, but this is also the OFTF truck. I use this for my family, but we also use it to scout the backcountry, we use it to put out fires, we use it to haul equipment, we haul garbage with it.
鈥淏ut I just don鈥檛 have the money to fix it right now.鈥�
Blake added that it has been emotional for him, knowing that the crew will be sidelined for a while.
鈥淥FTF is my life. I love helping our community and the wildlife in our area, and it all came to a stop very quickly yesterday.鈥�
For the time being, the group will not be scouting or clearing out illegally dumped items from the Central Okanagan backcountry until the truck is fixed.
To help a group that is dedicated to helping the community enjoy the Central Okanagan outdoors, visit .
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