A van used by Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels to deliver food to disabled and home-bound people was stolen from the First Baptist Church parking lot in Ypsilanti, according to the director of the non-profit organization, Ann Harris.
Harris said she noticed the vehicle was missing Monday morning when she arrived at the location on 1110 West Cross St. where Meals on Wheels is based. The last time she saw it was Saturday afternoon.
The vehicle is a white 2003 Ford Windstar with “Meals on Wheels” on each side, Harris said.
According to the organization’s Web site, five vans are in service including the one allegedly stolen. These vehicles deliver about 300 meals to people in the City of Ypsilanti along with Superior, York, Augusta, Ypsilanti and Pittsfield townships.
Despite being down one vehicle, Harris said deliveries were made to everyone who was supposed to receive food, but the Meals on Wheels already has a waiting list of people who they cannot afford to serve at the moment.
“We made sure that the people got their food,” she said. “But this is going to be very challenging for us without that vehicle. It’s going to be very hard. It also contained the boxes – the hot boxes – that cost several hundred dollars that we pack the food in to keep it hot and cold.
“In the past, people understood what we did and didn’t do things like that to us. But maybe it’s a sign of the times.”
The Ypsilanti Police Department is investigating the incident. Anyone with information can call them at 734-483-9510.
