A van essential to the operations of Mercy Education Project (MEP), a Detroit nonprofit organization, has been stolen, prompting public appeals for assistance. MEP, which provides educational programs for girls and young women in Detroit, relies heavily on this van for transporting students to various activities and educational programs throughout the city. CBS News Detroit reports that security footage showed at least two individuals breaking into MEP's gated parking lot around 12:30 a.m. Monday and making off with the vehicle.
Communications Director Angela Walters described the theft as both quick and shocking, telling CBS News Detroit that the crime unfolded in under five minutes. The white 12-passenger Ford van, bearing the blue Mercy Education Project logo, is over ten years old but plays a critical role in the nonprofit's mission to safely ferry students to and from their destinations. "On any given day we have about 20 students coming in and out of our building. That adds up to a total of 80 to 100 students in a week that rely on that van," Walters explained.
Tanisha McIntosh of MEP spoke to FOX 2 Detroit, sharing how the loss of the van strips away the organization's opportunity to provide vital resources and exposure to the young girls. "I’m actually in shock still - even though I know it was just yesterday and we’re here today but I’m in shock because we would think someone would take from a non profit organization," McIntosh said. The van supports daily operations, including a summer camp that was scheduled to start the following Monday after the theft.
The Detroit Police Department is now actively seeking help to identify three people involved in the theft. The white Ford Econoline van, with license plate ENZ9723, is not just a means of transportation, but also a crucial component of MEP's educational efforts. The services, including transportation, are offered free of charge to the beneficiaries, ClickOnDetroit reports. The police department has requested that anyone with information about the stolen van to contact the 3rd Precinct at (313) 596-5300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak Up.
