Euclid nonprofit greenhouse targeted by vandals for the 2nd time
A Euclid non-profit dedicated to helping people with disabilities was vandalized again and employees and volunteers are fed up. Euclid non-profit, Help Foundation, has been targeted by vandals for the second time in three years. The organization, dedicated to supporting people with developmental disabilities in Northeast Ohio, opened a greenhouse two years ago to provide vocational training for people with disabilities. The second time vandals have targeted their greenhouse, which costs about $400 to replace. This is the 5th time this year that vandals targeted Help Foundation. The incident was captured on their surveillance camera. If you recognize the vandals, contact the Euclid Police Department.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Kelly Kennedy in Environment
EUCLID, Ohio (WOIO) - A Euclid non-profit dedicated to helping people with disabilities was vandalized again and employees and volunteers are fed up.
Help Foundation has supported people with developmental disabilities in Northeast Ohio for decades. Two years ago they opened a greenhouse to provide vocational training for people with disabilities. On Wednesday night it was vandalized for the second time. The crime was captured on their surveillance camera.
A little before 9 p.m. Wednesday someone wandered up to Help Foundation’s greenhouse on Shore Center Drive in Euclid, picked up a rock, and chucked it at the window.
“Frankly, we’re sick of it,” said Doug Knoop, Chief Asset Officer at Help Foundation.
Knoop said this is the 5th time vandals have targeted them in three years.
“That’s what we discovered when we got here this morning, another window was broken,” Knoop explained. “They cost about $400 to replace, they’re special glass for a greenhouse now as a nonprofit that really cuts into our operating expenses.”
Knoop said this is the second time their greenhouse had a window shattered. They’ve also had people start fires at their picnic tables outside which they’ve since removed.
“It makes me angry having to replace these windows yet again,” he said. “It makes me sad that these young people have nothing better to do, are getting this kind of activity into their lives. We all know broken windows lead to worse crime.”
Help Foundation provides services to adults with developmental disabilities and serves 500 people in Northeast Ohio each year by providing vocational training, support services, and residential facilities. The greenhouse is one of their vocational programs.
“Which really trains adults with these disabilities in the basic job skills of showing up on time with your uniform, interacting with your coworkers in the right way, and really building the skills and more importantly the confidence to have jobs in the community,” Knoop said.
Knoop doesn’t want to see whoever did this go to jail, but he would like to teach them a lesson.
“We’d like to have them pay for the window and perhaps work that off as a volunteer here at Help Foundation,” he said. “I could find some tasks to complete that would probably help us help them learn some responsibility.”
If you recognize the person in the video, contact the Euclid Police Department.
Topics: Nonprofits, ESG