A formerly unhoused Indigenous man who got sober and turned his life around has been the victim of a theft that left him without any tools or equipment to continue operating his landscaping business.
Since the theft, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help buy new equipment.
George Aleck provides for his wife, Sandra West, their 2-year-old son and 4-month-old baby through the landscaping business he created after getting clean and turning over a new page in his life.
Aleck’s business, One With The Land Lawn Care and Landscaping, represents a dream that he has had for some time—to connect with the land while helping people to do the same.
“One With The Land started from scratch,” wrote West in the online fundraiser launched to help Aleck buy new equipment and tools.
“We were denied for every grant and loan we applied for. The only help we had was from my mom who was able to help a little with the first few tools. Everything we had, we worked hard to get and build up. It’s not easy with the cost of things, especially with a small child.”
Related:
According to West, on the morning of Saturday, August 23rd, around 4:30 a.m., a man and woman, who she suspects to be active substance-users themselves, stole all their equipment out of the back of their work truck while it was parked in a parking garage.
“They entered the secured parking garage, went straight to our truck, stole the wagon belonging to the neighbours parked beside us, and used it to take ALL the tools,” wrote West.
“Thousands of dollars worth of items were taken. Including a brand new, never used set of a Ryobi lawnmower, leaf blower and weed eater.”
She added that there is irony in this matter.
“Had these [two] individuals gone to treatment and gotten clean then George had met them a few months down the road, he would have extended his hand to congratulate their sobriety, asked if they needed help with anything, and probably even offered them work,” wrote West.
“Instead, the very people he is looking to help took from him everything he needs to keep his business going.”
Unfortunately, none of the stolen tools are covered by the couple’s insurance policies, so they have resorted to pleading with members of the public to help them through this difficult time.
Thus far, the GoFundMe has garnered just over $8,400 of its $10,000 goal.
To donate to the cause, click here.
