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I coach soccer at various underprivileged elementary schools and youth centers throughout the county. This one in particular is the worst out of all. For one, most of these kids parents are irresponsible and poor. Plus they live out in the middle of sugarcane fields where the only thing to do is play sports or get in trouble with the law.
Anyways, this article is from today's paper regarding the vandalism. lol at the director saying, "...it's just another form of terrorism"
"We can't even do that now. We have nothing," Rivera said.
Friday, July 29, 2005
On the school bus that takes poor migrant children to camp, every window is shattered, top and bottom. The van that brings meals to needy families in Pahokee is burnt to its hull. The van that offers a lift to adults trying to learn English is without windows too, and its tires slashed.
By vandalizing all three of New Hope Charities' vehicles, someone also stole the agency's ability to help people.
"We can't pick up food. We can't pick up kids. We can't transport anyone," said Guillermo Rivera, family center managing director at New Hope. "We've been crippled by this act of vandalism. They couldn't have planned it any better. Take out our vehicles and we're done."
The vandalism was discovered when workers arrived Thursday morning.
There are no suspects and no indication the crime is anything other than random destruction, said Palm Beach County sheriff's Sgt. Robert Quinones. Damage is estimated at $27,000, and the state fire marshal is investigating the fire, he said.
"There's no indication this is somebody trying to get revenge. This was a remote area, and someone took advantage of it and went for a free-for-all," Quinones said. New Hope is at ****, which is closed to traffic while it is under construction.
On Thursday, children who showed up for camp took a charter bus to West Palm Beach to participate in a program that teaches youngsters how to apply for jobs like an adult. But that program ends today, and Rivera said the last week of camp will be canceled if he can't find another way to get the children around by Monday.
"A lot of these kids, the parents don't have a means to drive them to the center, basically in the middle of a cane field," Rivera said.
The final week of camp is the most exciting, with trips to the Rapids water park and a deep-sea fishing trip. The children look forward to it all summer, Rivera said.
"We save the best trips for last. This effectively kills all that. ... The folks who did this have no clue what they've done. They hurt the kids," Rivera said.
Mark Coppock, director of operations for New Hope, said the vehicles are insured, but the deductibles are thousands of dollars.
"We're trying to borrow a bus, rent a bus, do whatever we have to do. Being a charitable organization, this is a very large, unexpected expense for us," Coppock said. "It's just another form of terrorism."
Each week, the charity picks up supplies at a food bank.
Last year, New Hope distributed 100,000 pounds of food, Rivera said. New Hope also gets donations from Bed Bath and Beyond and brings them to churches.
"We can't even do that now. We have nothing," Rivera said.
Anyways, this article is from today's paper regarding the vandalism. lol at the director saying, "...it's just another form of terrorism"
"We can't even do that now. We have nothing," Rivera said.
Friday, July 29, 2005
On the school bus that takes poor migrant children to camp, every window is shattered, top and bottom. The van that brings meals to needy families in Pahokee is burnt to its hull. The van that offers a lift to adults trying to learn English is without windows too, and its tires slashed.
By vandalizing all three of New Hope Charities' vehicles, someone also stole the agency's ability to help people.
"We can't pick up food. We can't pick up kids. We can't transport anyone," said Guillermo Rivera, family center managing director at New Hope. "We've been crippled by this act of vandalism. They couldn't have planned it any better. Take out our vehicles and we're done."
The vandalism was discovered when workers arrived Thursday morning.
There are no suspects and no indication the crime is anything other than random destruction, said Palm Beach County sheriff's Sgt. Robert Quinones. Damage is estimated at $27,000, and the state fire marshal is investigating the fire, he said.
"There's no indication this is somebody trying to get revenge. This was a remote area, and someone took advantage of it and went for a free-for-all," Quinones said. New Hope is at ****, which is closed to traffic while it is under construction.
On Thursday, children who showed up for camp took a charter bus to West Palm Beach to participate in a program that teaches youngsters how to apply for jobs like an adult. But that program ends today, and Rivera said the last week of camp will be canceled if he can't find another way to get the children around by Monday.
"A lot of these kids, the parents don't have a means to drive them to the center, basically in the middle of a cane field," Rivera said.
The final week of camp is the most exciting, with trips to the Rapids water park and a deep-sea fishing trip. The children look forward to it all summer, Rivera said.
"We save the best trips for last. This effectively kills all that. ... The folks who did this have no clue what they've done. They hurt the kids," Rivera said.
Mark Coppock, director of operations for New Hope, said the vehicles are insured, but the deductibles are thousands of dollars.
"We're trying to borrow a bus, rent a bus, do whatever we have to do. Being a charitable organization, this is a very large, unexpected expense for us," Coppock said. "It's just another form of terrorism."
Each week, the charity picks up supplies at a food bank.
Last year, New Hope distributed 100,000 pounds of food, Rivera said. New Hope also gets donations from Bed Bath and Beyond and brings them to churches.
"We can't even do that now. We have nothing," Rivera said.
