TreeFolks, a nonprofit organization dedicated to forest restoration and urban tree canopy expansion in Central Texas, has recently faced a significant setback due to theft and vandalism at its Austin office. The burglaries, which included the theft of equipment and vehicles, have resulted in nearly $100,000 in recovery costs, the group announced in a press release and on social media. The latest incident over the weekend saw the theft of a Ford F250 pickup truck and equipment from its storage containers, an event that follows the prior theft and wrecking of another pickup.
In the wake of these incidents, TreeFolks has taken measures to enhance the security at their facilities, installing new locks, security cameras, and motion lights to safeguard their staff, volunteers, and assets they said after finding their premises burglarized on the morning of Saturday, July 27th. As stated by TreeFolks Executive Director, Andrew Smiley, "Our staff, who have been working hard all summer to care for trees planted in the community and to plan for our upcoming planting season, certainly feel the extra strain this will cause." The additional security is estimated to cost the nonprofit around $1,200 while the replacement of stolen equipment and vehicle repair costs soar toward $100,000.
The Austin-based nonprofit is grappling with the significant financial burden this crime has imposed on its operations. With the replacement of two pickup trucks being the largest expense at approximately $95,000 and smaller costs such as $2,000 for stolen equipment, and roughly $400 for each of the two damaged Subarus, the total front recovery and repair costs are substantial. However, TreeFolks advised that insurance will likely cover part of this unforeseen expenditure, mitigation that falls short of the whole.
TreeFolks has called upon the community for support, inviting donations and volunteers for the upcoming planting season to help overcome these obstacles, and as Smiley expressed in a statement provided by KXAN, "We appreciate the support from our community and remain focused on our mission." Donations to aid the nonprofit's recovery can be made through their website or by reaching out to Andrew Smiley for details on making larger contributions.
Despite the recent challenges, TreeFolks is committed to continuing its mission of empowering Central Texans through reforestation and educational initiatives. Since its inception in 1989, the organization has planted nearly 3 million trees in the region and focuses on reforestation, riparian sapling plantings, and distribution of native Texas trees. They assure the community they will share updates throughout their recovery process on their website and social media platforms.
