SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A community of good Samaritans have donated more toys for children in need to replace the toys inside of a trailer stolen from a Southwest Miami-Dade school.
St. Kevin Catholic School Principal Dr. Mayra Constantino had strong words for those who took a trailer full of toys for children in need at around 2 a.m., Monday morning.
“I so hope that God teaches them or touches their heart because that is so wrong,” Constantino said. “When we looked at the cameras, somebody after 2 a.m. had been walking around the trailer, casing it, and they pulled up a van, took the trailer and went off with all the toys.”
The school and St. Vincent de Paul, a non-profit organization, had been working together to collect the toys for their annual toy drive. The toys were supposed to go to about 400 families in the area.
“St. Vincent de Paul does go to all the families in the area that are needy, that need something for Christmas to give to their children,” Constantino said.
Despite the stolen toys, those children in need will now be getting a toy for the holidays. People in the community who found out what happened to the trailer have donated more toys than they had collected the first time around.
“It’s been absolutely an outpouring of love,” Constantino said. “Our St. Kevin community has answered the need of the children. From every bad thing, something good happens. They actually answered the call of the children, and they did. The Grinch could not take Christmas away from us, and God always opens up not a window, but sometimes, even a garage door.”
“It is — I’m overwhelmed,” St. Vincent de Paul volunteer Vicky Vinent said. “They went out and bought more toys — the whole community, the parishioners. It is incredible.”
“We have a really good team and a really good family here,” parent Carmen Cruz said. “We all came together, and we all made it double or triple of what we had the first time.”
Constantino wants the two people who were caught on surveillance video taking the trailer to know that they have a forgiving heart.
“I hope that they — that they have a moment of regret,” she said. “I don’t know what they have done with the toys, and if it was for their needs and if it was for food for families that they know, then God bless them.”
The incident has been reported to Miami-Dade Police, and 7News has reached out for more information on the case.
“Everyone knows in that community what that trailer is for, and they knew the following day, all of those toys in there would be delivered,” Vinent said. “God have mercy on him.”
The toys are expected to be delivered on Friday.
If you have any information on the stolen trailer, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.