Family's Gifts Stolen; Community Comes to Help

Aired:  Monday, 24 Dec 2007
Created: Monday, 24 Dec 2007, 5:40 PM EST

Fox 29 Philadelphia

 

 

 

     A community of businesses and emergency workers come to the aid of a woman left with nothing for her kids on Christmas.  All of the toys and gifts she bought her three young children were stolen by thieves. Christmas Eve sirens could be heard blaring outside the home in North Philadelphia. 

A fire trucks pulled up followed by police cars. They were on a different kind of rescue than usual.

     "I was expecting a visit and got a big surprise," said Dainisha Jones.  Jones and her three children opened the door to Santa and a bunch of helpers who dropped off toys and wrapped gifts.

     "Just having the opportunity to turn a sour situation into a sweet one really makes the job all more worth it," said Sergeant Michael Goodson with Philadelphia Police.  He was dressed as Santa. 

He was talking about thieves who broke into the family's home and wiped them clean of everything the single mom worked hard to get her children. "I felt violated and betrayed," said Jones.

     The burglary happened last Monday.  Police say thieves got in through the basement door during the day when no one was home.  They stole all the Christmas presents and even came back the next day and stole the family's car.  1-year old Gabrielle was too young to understand but her 7 and 8 year old brothers said they were sad and depressed to see their once full tree now bare.  "Why would they do that to little kids?  They could have just taken the electronics but why did they take stuff from kids?" asked 8-year old Ralph Dennis.

     But thanks to Tom Peculski, from Safety & Health Solutions, LLC, whose wife works with Jones at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the kids now have toys, wrapped gifts, even two brand new tv's.  Mr. Peculski got donations from his business customers, family, friends and neighbors.  Having served the North Philadelphia area for years, as an Emergency Responder himself,

Mr. Peculski was able to get Philadelphia Police and Firefighters to join in and help.  They brought Santa in on a fire truck.  They wanted to assure Jones of one thing.  "I said to Dainisha, I want you to go to bed knowing there's going to be Christmas morning in this house.  You have plenty of things as a mother to worry about and Christmas morning will not be one of them," said Peculski.

     Jones said she is thankful and now looks at people differently despite what happened. 

"It's shocking that its people out there who really care and they don't even have to know you.

It's amazing," said Jones.

By Shawnette Wilson