Habitat for Humanity is back on track after donations replaced tools stolen from one of their work sites.
Justin Hughes, the organization’s marketing and volunteer co-ordinator, said all the missing tools should be replaced by next week, thanks to donations from the public and a few businesses.
“I guess that’s the Island we live on,” he said.
Some time between Aug. 21 and 23, someone used bolt cutters to break into a trailer at a build site in Summerside and stole 13 tools Habitat for Humanity was using to build its 30th house on P.E.I.
Hughes said the tools were worth about $1,500 and although the workers didn’t need them to finish the job, the organization does need them for a build scheduled to start Sept. 18 in Kensington.
“We were kind of at a situation that we didn’t know if we were going to be able to go ahead.”
Once word got out about the theft, a man came forward with some of the tools he said he bought from someone and only realized they were stolen after the fact.
Hughes said the tools were engraved with the organization’s name on them, but whoever stole them scratched it off so there weren’t any identifying markings on them.
“We got the story out, crossed our fingers and hoped for the best.”
But even after several Island businesses donated tools and one woman donated $1,000, Habitat for Humanity was still short five specialized tools they need to build houses, he said.
“We were kind of at a situation that we didn’t know if we were going to be able to go ahead,” - Justin Hughes
Hughes said that’s when Bosch Tools heard about their problem and came on board to make sure the organization had what it needed with a donation to replace everything that was stolen with new tools.
“It means every one of our builds after this will be more efficient and safer.”
With the Bosch tools set to arrive next week, Habitat for Humanity will be able to start the Kensington build on schedule, he said.
“The contribution has just blown us away.”
Hughes said Habitat for Humanity was so caught up in trying to get the tools it needed it was surprised by the donation from Bosch because it went beyond what the organization was looking for.
“We just wanted to get even the tools we had before.”
The people of Summerside have supported Habitat for Humanity since the organization started building houses there and Hughes said he wanted to thank everyone who donated after the theft.
“This community has definitely made a positive out of a negative.”
rross@theguardian.pe.ca
