New Westminster workers with special needs trying to replace stolen truck

NEW WESTMINSTER (CityNews) – A crew of adults with special needs who help landscape and do outdoor work in New Westminster hasn’t been able to keep up with community demand ever since their truck was stolen over three months ago.

Fraserside’s Mobile Work Crew was created by the non-profit organization Fraserside Community Services Society, which helps people who face employment barriers find meaningful work. But a major wrench was thrown into the situation when their pickup truck was stolen Halloween night.

The team has since been limited to recycling runs and small maintenance jobs. But what the team members enjoy doing most is landscaping. Lynda Edmonds with Fraserside Community Services says they can’t do their job without this truck.

“They have to have big equipment and lawn mowers and washers … that they have to be able to cart around,” she said. “They also often remove dirt and bricks and things, so it’s a rough and ready truck that is essential to their work.”

"It's going to really limit what work we can & can't do"
A crew of adults with special needs who do outdoor work in #NewWestminster had their truck stolen on Halloween. The team was devastated & haven't been able to keep up with community demand ever since.@CityNewsVAN @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/y84nmHupLe

— Ashley Burr (@AshleyBurr_) February 5, 2021

With insurance and what Fraserside has been able to raise to date, they have about half of the $70,000 they need to replace the vehicle.

Don Matthews has been the crew’s team leader for 27 years. He worries if they don’t have a new truck by spring, the crew will lose out on a massive amount of work.

“Without the truck, we can’t get all our tools and stuff and be able to do a lot of the work that we normally do because we just don’t have capacity with the van. So, it will limit what work we can and can’t do,” he said.

Don Matthews, the crew’s team leader of 27 years, is worried about all the potential jobs they may lose out on in Spring when people have yard work. @Fraserside is $40,000 short of being able to replace the truck & is now fundraising online. @CityNewsVAN @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/lMFPfpp8Np

— Ashley Grace Burr (@AshleyBurr_) February 5, 2021

“Landscaping, we have about 30 customers. We provide rubbish removal, clearing of trees and stuff like that, and some of that work won’t be able to be done without a proper vehicle,” he added.

For this crew, the work they do is much more than just a job.

“All the guys are very committed,” Matthews said. “Coming here is a place of belonging for them and they got a lot of friendships being established in the program. So to them, it’s a place of support. We provide the training for them to keep doing work and to them, it’s very meaningful and fulfilling.

If you would like to help, donations are being accepted on Fraserside’s website.