Salvation Army beats back the bed bugs

The following is a first-person account by an individual who is helped by the Salvation Army food bank, the recipient of this year’s Be An Angel campaign. To donate, visit The Herald office, Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., at 101-186 Nanaimo Ave. W., or visit www.pentictonherald.ca.

I was vacuuming in my bedroom and noticed some bugs.

I contacted someone more knowledgeable than myself about bed bugs to confirm. Next day I discovered beg bugs along the side of the headboard and very heavy bed bug trail on mattress, bed frame and covers.

I brought this to my landlords’ attention immediately. They were not willing to take action.

I was advised at the Access Centre and we put in a request for emergency health and safety to the landlords and Residential Tenancy Branch. Then I came to the Salvation Army asking for help to see if I could get replacement mattress box spring and covers and any help with the bed frame and headboard that I was going to have to get rid of. The Salvation Army was my major angels in this and the Access Centre.

Here we are it is December and it is finally all over with. During the course of dealing with this, both with online research about bedbugs and seeking community support I have come to realize what a large problem bed bugs are in the city of Penticton.