WASHINGTON — Members of the D.C. community came together after roughly $10,000 worth of Christmas presents meant for children in need were stolen from a U-Haul truck.
The theft happened on Dec. 12, just two days before the organization's holiday party for over 300 kids of incarcerated parents.
Saymendy Lloyd, the founder of inmate reform and support group Women's Wing, said she returned to the truck after gift shopping for the kids and went to drop off more presents in trunk. Llloyd said when she pulled the door up, all that was left inside was wrapping paper.
But the holiday party, which kicked off Saturday in Northeast, D.C., received hundreds of pleasant surprises in the days following the theft.
Community members from around D.C. donated dozens of bags filled with toys to the Women's Wing after D.C. Council member Kenyan R. McDuffie (D-Ward 5) held a donation drive outside of his office on Thursday.
Efforts to help out the holiday bash and support the children also came from crowdsourcing, where over $3500 was raised on GoFundMe.
Police are still searching for the suspect responsible for breaking into the U-Haul and stealing the gifts and have not yet released any further information.
