Brantford food bank’s stolen van replaced

(Update)

The Brantford Food Bank has a new set of wheels after their van was stolen on Remembrance Day. The new vehicle was given to the charity by someone who heard their plea for help.

Luckily for the food bank, that someone was Toyota Canada and the car makers handed over the keys Thursday morning.

Ozzy Bailey sometimes depends on the Brantford Food Bank to get by: “How’s it going? Good, how are you today? Great. Would you like some crusty french bread?”

When Ozzy heard about the food banks van being stolen from this loading area on rememberance day he was disgusted: “That affects me and other people a huge part. If somebody’s grateful enough to help somebody out in dire needs and somebody comes along and steals that for you that’s just total disrespect.”

The stolen van was found the same day in this Walmart parking lot in Ancaster but it was damaged beyond repair.

Heather Vanner is the Food Bank’s Executive Director: “We really do see this as a Christmas miracle.”

The Christmas miracle for the food bank is this forty-thousand dollar 2014 Sienna 8 passenger van that has a built in security system. Toyota Canada donated it.

Heather: “We weren’t sure how we were going to get through December without a vehicle.”

The Brantford Food Bank helps feed 3,200 people a month and 36% of them are children.

Pat Clement is with Toyota Canada: “We’re so pleased to be able to help out communities because our community has supported us and to let our team members and their families know we are part of the community.”

Heather: “Staff actually used their own personal vehicles the first few days until we worked things out with the insurance company. We’re so very grateful.”

The food bank says Petro Canada just down the street had called them the day their van was stolen to say someone gassed up the van and forgot to pay. The driver was caught on this surveillance camera but the picture wasn’t clear enough for police to identify the thief.

Brantford police haven’t arrested anyone yet but say they’re looking for a man with a red hoodie, brown jacket and baggy pants. Police have only received one tip so far and are asking anyone with information to call them.

Anyone with information’s asked to call Brantford Police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (tips).