Over $5,000 worth of equipment stolen from Habitat for Humanity

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Published November 1, 2019 at 7:03 pm

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Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga, which is currently working on several affordable housing projects for vulnerable and lower-income residents in the Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills areas, is reeling after the alleged theft of $5,000 worth of donated tools. 

On Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, Habitat HM employees were shocked to find salvage and donation trucks stripped of tools and supplies that had been donated to the charity by Milwaukee Tool. 

Habitat HM says this marks the second time that tools have been stolen from the charity within the past month and a half. 

The organization says the first theft occurred in September when trucks were once again the target of thieves who “stole all the tools they could carry.” 

As a non-profit organization, Habitat HM says it depends on such donations to operate.

“We do our best to ensure that our assets are secured properly; we’ve taken additional precautions to keep this from happening again. We just can’t fathom why anyone would target a charity, so we are incredibly disheartened. To have these tools donated by Milwaukee was huge for us,” says John Gerrard, CEO, Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga, 

“To have them stolen now is a great loss.”

Habitat HM says the theft greatly impacts the charity’s ability to continue this program.

Habitat HM is currently working on its largest build project to date, an 18-townhome community located in Burlington. 

“The project will supply 18 families with affordable housing where their children can grow up together in a safe and supportive environment,” Habitat for Humanity said in a statement.

The organization is also constructing an affordable housing development on Merritt Ave. in Malton in Mississauga

The charity is appealing to the community for support and hoping for donations of new or gently used tools that can help the organization rebuild its losses.

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