Meet Brian. Your donations helped change his life.

Brian Tompkins grew up on a ranch outside of Salmon Arm.

His family was religious, attending church every weekend.

He admittedly knew right from wrong.

But eight years ago, the 63-year-old’s wife was in a tragic accident.

It sent him into a tailspin.

He ended up on the streets, turned to substance use, and lost touch with his children.

Years passed and his outlook was bleak.

But he knew he was approaching an apex.

“Either keep going over the deep end and go until I’m lost totally or straighten out,” he told Kelowna10.

“I picked straighten out.”

And that was just one year ago.

Today, Tompkins works as a maintenance worker at the Kelowna Gospel Mission. The “endless job,” as he jokingly describes it, gives him a purpose, and keeps his mind from wondering.

“I am very proud of myself,” he said. “At first, it’s kind of unbelievable, how did I get here? And then I start thinking about the people that helped me out, through the Gospel Mission.”

Beyond the litany of services offered at the centre, he said the welcoming faces and counsellors are what truly helped steer him down the right path.

Tompkins is not one to ask for help. But when he finally did, he was amazed with how quickly he was able to find himself a new outlook on life.

“As long as your mind is in the right direction, you can do it,” he said. “I had to do my work myself, there is no doubt about it, but with the help I got here, it made it much easier. … I didn’t think I would be here this fast. But I am happy I am.”

Tompkins’ list of accomplishments in long: he’s sober, is moving into his own apartment, has a new set of dentures on the way, and has reconnected with his children and grandchildren.

To those still living rough or hesitating to find a new path, his message is simple: don’t be scared to ask for help.

“There are people out there to help. [People who need help] don’t always want to involve their private issues, but that’s part of getting help and moving ahead,” he said. “You have to let them know what the problems are to get help.”

And to the broader community, he urged them to stop, listen, and work to rid their mind of long-held stereotypes.

“Every single person out there has a story. Let them speak up and maybe listen and hear their story,” he said. “I was one of those people once, too. But look at me now.”

Just $31.10 a day is all it takes to feed 10 people in need. Donate today at kelownagospelmission.ca.