Robyn1007
09-18-2007, 09:06 AM
I don't know why this struck me as so disheartening but it did. I'm planning on heading to the grocery store today and dropping it off at the food bank to help replace some of the food that was ruined.
Food bank truck stolen, 1 ton of food ruined. 9NEWS at 10 p.m. 9/17/07
DENVER - A local non-profit wants to know who would steal food from the hungry. A thief took a refrigerated Food Bank of the Rockies truck Monday that was stocked with enough food to feed 1,500 families.
The truck was clearly marked with the food bank's logo, so Denver Police say the thief knew what they were taking.
It happened at a Pizza Hut near the intersection of Federal and Mississippi in Denver on Monday.
Jamil Mathis works at the restaurant.
"I thought it was horrible that somebody would steal any kind of vehicle especially one going to the hungry. It is just ridiculous," said Mathis.
The driver of the Food Bank truck was at the Pizza Hut to pick up pizzas he would then distribute to families in need. He left the keys under the driver's seat while he quickly went in the back door of the restaurant.
In the moment he was inside, someone took the truck.
Kevin Seggelke, the CEO of the Food Bank of the Rockies, said, "The driver is a much loved employee and feels terrible about what happened. We are not angry with him. Our emotions are toward whoever did this. Our emotions ranged from very angry, to very disheartened, to very frustrated."
The thief stole a truck that would cost $45,000 to replace. However, what was most upsetting, says Seggelke, was the 2,000 pounds of food inside that would not be delivered to the people who desperately needed it.
Within 10 minutes of the burglary, the receptionist at the Food Bank started getting phone calls from drivers complaining about one of the trucks driving dangerously.
"The woman was pretty upset. She said the truck was like running a car over," said Maria Guerreo.
Guerreo says she had to explain it was a thief driving the truck recklessly, not one of their employees.
About four hours after the truck was stolen, Denver Police found it near Alameda and Julian.
Witnesses told police that two underage boys left the truck at a run after it was left near the intersection, but police do not have a specific description.
All the food inside the truck was ruined. The food was worth nearly $4,000.
The truck was also damaged.
"We were just flabbergasted that anyone would do that. I guess we want to hope that it was just a joy ride and that it wasn't someone who needed the food, because if they needed the food all they had to do was ask," said Seggelke.
Visit www.FoodBankRockies.org for more information on the non-profit and for ways that you can donate food.
Food bank truck stolen, 1 ton of food ruined. 9NEWS at 10 p.m. 9/17/07
DENVER - A local non-profit wants to know who would steal food from the hungry. A thief took a refrigerated Food Bank of the Rockies truck Monday that was stocked with enough food to feed 1,500 families.
The truck was clearly marked with the food bank's logo, so Denver Police say the thief knew what they were taking.
It happened at a Pizza Hut near the intersection of Federal and Mississippi in Denver on Monday.
Jamil Mathis works at the restaurant.
"I thought it was horrible that somebody would steal any kind of vehicle especially one going to the hungry. It is just ridiculous," said Mathis.
The driver of the Food Bank truck was at the Pizza Hut to pick up pizzas he would then distribute to families in need. He left the keys under the driver's seat while he quickly went in the back door of the restaurant.
In the moment he was inside, someone took the truck.
Kevin Seggelke, the CEO of the Food Bank of the Rockies, said, "The driver is a much loved employee and feels terrible about what happened. We are not angry with him. Our emotions are toward whoever did this. Our emotions ranged from very angry, to very disheartened, to very frustrated."
The thief stole a truck that would cost $45,000 to replace. However, what was most upsetting, says Seggelke, was the 2,000 pounds of food inside that would not be delivered to the people who desperately needed it.
Within 10 minutes of the burglary, the receptionist at the Food Bank started getting phone calls from drivers complaining about one of the trucks driving dangerously.
"The woman was pretty upset. She said the truck was like running a car over," said Maria Guerreo.
Guerreo says she had to explain it was a thief driving the truck recklessly, not one of their employees.
About four hours after the truck was stolen, Denver Police found it near Alameda and Julian.
Witnesses told police that two underage boys left the truck at a run after it was left near the intersection, but police do not have a specific description.
All the food inside the truck was ruined. The food was worth nearly $4,000.
The truck was also damaged.
"We were just flabbergasted that anyone would do that. I guess we want to hope that it was just a joy ride and that it wasn't someone who needed the food, because if they needed the food all they had to do was ask," said Seggelke.
Visit www.FoodBankRockies.org for more information on the non-profit and for ways that you can donate food.