Christmas presents stolen from trailer at NJ nonprofit Wheels of Change in NJ

A real-life Grinch targeted a nonprofit in South Jersey and got away with hundreds of toys for children in need over the weekend.

Léelo en español aquí

Wheels of Change in West Deptford, New Jersey, is now scrambling to replace hundreds of toys before Christmas after a thief allegedly cut the locks off their trailer and stole bags of gifts.

The organization had put the toys away in the trailer to set them aside for more than 600 children.

“Honestly, my stomach dropped I wanted to cry,” Wheels of Change founder Brenda Gonzalez said. “As we were having a food distribution outside for Thanksgiving we noticed that the locks were cut.”

There are no surveillance cameras outside of the nonprofit’s building, so organizers said that they don’t know when the theft happened or who possibly committed the theft.

Only some clothing was left behind.

“We are going to have to find toys for those kids,” Gonzalez said. “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle so I know that we are going to receive tenfold and we are already seeing it.”

Wheels of Change is a resource center that helps thousands of families every year. This robbery is leaving the organization trying to find new gifts for more than 600 children before Dec. 13.

It’s a mission that they don’t have to tackle alone as local families and businesses have stepped up to help.

If you would like to help, Wheels of Change is accepting donations of toys at their location at 1997 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 4 in Westville.

Donations can be dropped off Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. 

They say any new toys, geared toward children ages 7 and up, would be appreciated.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

 

Want more insights? Join Grow With Caliber - our career elevating newsletter and get our take on the future of work delivered weekly.