Nick BoPeep, despite enduring a devastating home scam in Wallace, Idaho, that left her and her children homeless, remains a beacon of kindness by continuously helping others.
Her life story, shared on Facebook, reveals a pattern of compassion that spans decades and states.
From handing out popcorn to the hungry in Albuquerque to delivering meals to the elderly on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, Nick’s experiences show how one person’s determination can make a real difference.
Even through financial struggles, family challenges, and repeated relocations, she kept coaching kids in sports, cheering at school events, and supporting her community, all while refusing to accept help for free.
Nick’s journey began in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where simple acts of giving set the tone for her life.
She would pop bags of popcorn, make sandwiches, and pack snacks into a big box.
With her young daughter, Courtney Welker, by her side, they handed these out to people in need on the streets.
A small bag of popcorn might seem insignificant, but Nick saw how it could light up someone’s face with a genuine smile.
It was these moments that fueled her passion for helping, teaching her that even tiny gestures can touch hearts deeply.
“Sometimes just a little bag of popcorn could spark a twinkle in someone’s eye and a smile on their face that you know just went across their heart.”
Via Facebook
Seeking family support, Nick moved to Arizona to be near her dad. In the small town of Springerville, she spotted a gap in community events and organized the area’s first annual Easter egg hunts.
She rounded up donations for prizes, from local businesses to individuals, and arranged for winners to collect them directly from the donors.
This made things easier for her as a young mom managing it all. But she didn’t stop there. Nick founded Project Hope, a program to support young pregnant women and new mothers with essentials.
When it grew beyond what she could handle alongside raising her 6-year-old, she handed it over to the local WIC program.
Undeterred, she shifted her efforts to “crock pots in the park,” cooking hot meals outdoors for anyone hungry and passing by.
These park gatherings became a lifeline for many, offering not just food but a sense of community in a place where resources were scarce.
Life pulled her westward to a remote spot called Caliente Canyon in California. From 1995 to 1999, Nick ran Angel Blossoms Books and Gifts, a small store in the middle of nowhere.
It was tough living so isolated, but she still found ways to help locals whenever possible.
Eventually, the challenges of rural life led her to close the shop. With her two children in tow, she returned to Arizona.
But this chapter brought darker times: difficult personal experiences, including a troubled marriage.
Amid it all, she gave birth to her beautiful son. When things fell apart, Nick made a bold decision. She packed up her three kids and headed north, chasing stability.
Becoming a grandmother added joy but also complexity to her life. In Wallace, Idaho, a historic mining town known for its old buildings and scenic Silver Valley, Nick thought she’d found a fresh start.
She used her last savings to buy a house, dreaming of a secure home for her family. But it turned into a nightmare.
The property needed complete rewiring, and a promised helper backed out, even though Nick had offered to pay.
Worse, she discovered the house was riddled with asbestos, a hazardous material common in older homes like those in Wallace, built during the mining boom era.
Asbestos exposure can lead to serious health issues, making the place uninhabitable without costly remediation.
Feeling duped and broke, Nick had no choice but to enter a homeless shelter with two of her children. It was a low point, but she followed every rule, determined to rebuild.
“I had just spent my last to get into this house. Therefore the reason for the shelter.”
Via Facebook
In the shelter system, Nick’s resilience shone through. She transitioned to supportive housing, enrolled in college, and landed a solid job in the medical field in nearby Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
This allowed her to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment for her family. All the while, she continued her quiet acts of service, using her own money to feed those in need.
She never asked for payment or favors in return, pride kept her insisting on reciprocity if anyone ever helped her.
When her oldest daughter graduated and moved to New Mexico with her family, Nick eventually followed, bringing her other children and a foster daughter.
But New Mexico’s medical jobs paid far less, about half of what she’d earned in Idaho, forcing another pivot.
Stepping away from healthcare, Nick worked at a laundromat while pursuing more education.
She became a bail bondsman and even a bounty hunter, roles that surprised many but fit her no-nonsense yet compassionate style.
Unlike the stereotypical tough enforcer, Nick gave people grace: time to say goodbye to their kids, have a family dinner, or gather essentials like socks and underwear before turning themselves in.
Her partner often doubted they’d show up, but they did, trusting her fairness.
Through it all, she remained a dedicated mom, attending every baseball game, basketball match, choir performance, band concert, and wrestling event.
One child needed a strict routine, and Nick made sure it ran like clockwork, even as she juggled being a grandma, sister, aunt, and daughter.
From 2003 to 2010, Nick expanded her impact with Project Teen Hope, which focused on homeless kids still attending school.
She collected donations from motels (soap, shampoo), dentists (toothbrushes, floss), and food banks (snacks). Cash came from her pocket for things like campground tickets, sleeping bags, coats, and shoes.
In 2010, seeking better opportunities, she moved her two youngest to North Dakota. Survival was possible there, but the schools were harsh, principals bullied students, including her child.
Unable to tolerate it, Nick relocated to Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, a lush, rainy region of forests and coastlines that offered a new beginning.
There, Project Teen Hope thrived. Nick opened a mini mall and created “Clothing Baby Bottoms 50 Cents at a Time,” a shop where young moms could afford outfits for their kids and feel proud about providing.
She gave away free coats, gloves, and boots to children braving the weather. Crock-pot meals in parks evolved into a Meals on Wheels-style service, delivering hot food to elderly folks anonymously requested by concerned neighbors or family.
One cherished memory: a little girl in the park hugged her, showing off the coat Nick had given her. It inspired more giveaways, ensuring no child went without.
“Look see I’m wearing the coat you gave me.”
Via Facebook
In 2019, under her given name, Nick started a Facebook group amid tough times leading into 2020.
She organized giveaways in the Jerome, Idaho, community, including Burger King coupons, Happy Meals, Whoppers, gift baskets, and pantry items.
During one month, 22 art sets went out to kids; one recipient sent back a drawing that Nick still hangs on her door as a reminder of her impact.
Even now, in the medical field again, she cares for loved ones when families can’t, ensuring dignity and respect.
Nick’s story isn’t just about survival, it’s evidence of a heart that gives endlessly.
Despite the home shelter scam that could have broken her, she coached, cheered, and supported youth in baseball, basketball, choir, band, and wrestling.
She helped across the Olympic Peninsula and beyond, always from her own resources.
As she puts it, if you don’t see her kindness, “you must be blind.”
In a time when scams like asbestos-hidden home sales plague buyers, especially in older towns like Wallace, where regulations have tightened, but risks remain, Nick’s tale reminds us that true strength lies in lifting others, no matter the personal cost.
