FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Habitat for Humanity Fort Collins is asking for the community’s help to find a trailer that was stolen off of one of its construction sites over the Thanksgiving break.
“We really need that trailer to build homes for families trying to get home for the holidays,” said Kristin Candella, the executive director of Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity.
The trailer was locked and chained up at the construction site for the Harmony Cottages when it was taken. The trailer had tools, paint supplies and drywall in it.
“The trailer itself is the most valuable thing that we really need because it helps us to keep everything on site and to be efficient,” Candella said.
In all, about $10,000 worth of goods were taken, setting the group back in construction by several weeks for some of the houses that the group was hoping to have completed by January.
“It’s hard to see something that enables you to do such good work disappear, of course, and I think it’s just counter to what we experience with Habitat because we see the best of people,” Candella said.
Harmony Cottages is a new neighborhood Habitat for Humanity is constructing that will feature 48 homes. Many of the homes being constructed are two-story duplexes; four of the properties are ranch-style homes constructed by students from Poudre High School.
Families work side-by-side with volunteers to construct the home and then buy it with a no-interest mortgage.
“We just work with the most remarkable and hard-working families. We work with teachers and CNA’s and bank tellers and first responders and they all have the same dream to provide that stability for their families and for their kids,” Candella said.
Candella is hoping the trailer and supplies will be returned so that the group can move forward on construction.
“We just want to build. It’s not about blame, we just want to build,” Candella said.
The missing trailer is white and has Colorado license plate 466-KHN. The trailer has a ladder rack on the top of it. It was stolen from the construction site at the southeast corner of Taft Hill and Harmony Road in Fort Collins. The group filed a police report and is working with its insurance company.
In the meantime, it is asking for donations to help keep the project moving forward. People can donate money, supplies or time.