Help 81-year-old veteran living in his car in a Squamish parking lot

Friends of a veteran have set up a GoFundMe page for an 81-year-old veteran who has been living in his car parked at a local parking lot.

Orville Larson served 11 years in the Canadian Armed Forces as a combat engineer in the 60’s, and spent over five years deployed to Germany. He fell on hard times after a series of unfortunate events and has no family to support him in town, says Jeremiah White, his friend.

Jeremiah too is a veteran and has served in the Canadian army in Afghanistan.

“Orville needs our help. In the past year he’s been evicted, had all of his possessions stolen from storage, and has somehow survived this winter without his most basic needs being met,” Jerermiah says. “Orville is just a good-hearted guy that life has dealt blow after blow and has nothing left.”

Jeremiah says Orville is currently living in his small car with few possessions in a parking lot in town and has lived there this entire winter. Jeremiah and Randi plan to raise $20,000 so a camper van can be bought for Orville.

“Any money raised will go toward purchasing a cargo-style van, converting it to a basic living setup, buying needed clothing and basic groceries. Our goal is to get Orville set up to be self-sufficient for the next phase of his life, which will hopefully be a brighter future than current prospects offer,” Jeremiah says.

“If you can’t donate money, please get in touch if you can donate time, labour, vehicle conversion materials (heater, water/septic tank, infrastructure items), camping-style gear, clothing, anything that can help,” he says.

Jeremiah can be contacted through the GoFundMe page or through email at jeremiahdwhite@gmail.com