Much-used wagon stolen from ‘single mom with toddler, no car’

| Crime | West Seattle news

Seen that wagon? Megan photographed her son and his friend out for a ride one day – and now hopes the photo will help find the culprit who stole it, or at least, will help find the wagon:

I am a single mother with a toddler and no car. To get groceries, or anything else for the matter, we take the wagon. It is impossible for me to carry groceries and keep my two year old from running out in the road. Our wagon was stolen within the last couple of days, from the parking lot in an alley behind my apartments, on 44th, close to (Skate Church).

We bought this wagon from the Senior Center. It is unique, and not a new model by any means. It is called a “Woody Wagon,” which is written on the side. The base is wood, and the walls are red and removeable. When we bought it, the screws started falling out. I took it to the local True Value to get some screws and the GREAT people there replaced all of the nuts/bolts/screws for me.

My son and I ran that wagon up and down the Alaska Junction several times a week, for function and for play, and it was (our) only mode of transportation! It’s just not right!!!

Any info? Let police know.

MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: We’ve been receiving e-mails from people who missed our mention of this in the comment section, so we’re adding it here too: Many kind people offered to buy, give, or loan a new wagon to Megan and her son. She has agreed to accept the offer of the first person who contacted us – moments after this story was published – and that person says it’s on the way. Megan also has posted a comment with words of appreciation, and let us add ours, so happy to see the community open its arms and do what it can to help.

2 Much Whine June 24, 2012 (6:07 pm)

Megan, We have a nice wagon you can use until you find something else or yours is returned. It was a gift to my daughter (so we’d eventually need it back) but she doesn’t use it so much anymore. I can bring it to you tonight or tomorrow if you wish. All I ask is that you store it inside (or locked up) so this wagon doesn’t get stolen as well. We don’t live far from you so I could be there within 5 minutes. . . .

Heidi June 24, 2012 (6:09 pm)

My sister has a collapsible wagon. It folds down similar to a stroller. I’d be happy to donate one. With this type of wagon, maybe it could be easily taken inside for the night.

Tony June 24, 2012 (6:16 pm)

I have a loaner wagon she can use. Let me know if you are interested.

coffee June 24, 2012 (6:22 pm)

Wrong….just wrong to take a kids toy-transportation.
We had one when I was a kid and I loved that wagon! Just like this one.

karen June 24, 2012 (6:53 pm)

love the kindness of all you posters

DF June 24, 2012 (6:55 pm)

I had one as a kid use to collect old newspapers from neighbors and every so often my folks would bring my down to the old YMCA recycle center that use to be on Avalon. Hope you either find yours or the SOBs return it. Can’t leave nothing of value out these days. Will only gey worse with population increase coming to West Seattle.

Maggie June 24, 2012 (6:57 pm)

<3!

MarlaSinger98116 June 24, 2012 (7:18 pm)

I love the kindness of the posters as well. I started my day feeling like there are too many bad people in this world, and am ending it feeling like are more good ones than I knew before today. I guess the wagon theft taught me something.

Thank you, Too Much Whine, Heidi, Tony, and Editors! The Editor told me that someone would like to donate a wagon (maybe one of you), so I will respond to the Editor directly for logistics.

You are all very kind people and that is very refreshing. :) Thank you.

west seattle mom June 24, 2012 (7:48 pm)

I’ll totally chip in for a new wagon if yours doesn’t show up. Is there a place we could collect money for it?

Brad June 24, 2012 (8:44 pm)

my little girl said you guys could have her wagon. She was sad that someone stole yours. It’s a big 2 seater. I work at Zeeks Pizza on California. Stop by and let me know if you would like it. I can drop it off for you. -brad

Brad June 24, 2012 (8:45 pm)

MarlaSinger98116 June 24, 2012 (9:07 pm)

I hope our wagon shows up, just because of memories, and because maybe that would mean that the thief was held responsble, or at least had a change of heart. I doubt that will happen, but thief, I filed a police report and warned all of the local children’s consignment shops. You should just put it back where you found it.

West Seattle Mom, thank you very much! Also, Brad, thank you (and your sweet little daughter who you are obviously raising well)! So many people have been so generous with their offers, I’m not sure which one to accept!

Since the editor wrote me with the first offer, and I already responded to that one, I am inclined to accept it, if I hear back again.

I’m overwhelmed with gratitude! I am going to save all of this to show my son someday.

Strangers really can be kind and completely selfless!

HockeyWitch June 24, 2012 (9:39 pm)

All of you that have offered your wagon’s,restores one more small piece of hope for humanity. Sometimes the best people are those you have never met. I have been on the needy side of a strangers help recently, and couldn’t thank them enough. You all are FANTASTIC!!!! Thanks for the smile. Hope you get your wagon back…

Cstar June 24, 2012 (11:02 pm)

And this is why I love our little neighborhood! It sounds like you will be taken care of and I am so glad for it.
If you end up needing $ for a new wagon I am sure the blog will help to facilitate the coordination of donations and I will gladly contribute. Best to you and your son!

miws June 25, 2012 (6:55 am)

Okay, folks, once Marla98116 (Megan) receives the donated wagon from whomever, (or her Son’s wagon is returned), we need to come up with an idea for new homes where the owners of the other offered wagons could donate them, if they wish.

I know I used to see the occasional donated stroller at the West Seattle Food Bank, but don’t know if they would accept wagons, due to the logistics of storing them. (Especially if there’s a sudden influx!)

Part of me, naturally, wants to suggest Nickelsville, since there are currently kids there, but then there’d be the whole issue of which child(ren)/family it goes to. Plus, the ground is very uneven. (Although the kids would probably love the bumpy ride!). Another concern, is that instead of going to/staying with the kids, they’d end up being Camp “work” wagons. Not that that’s a bad thing either, it’s just that I’m so heartened, (but in no way surprised) by this generous outpouring, I’m in the mood to have a smile put on more kids faces!

Brainstorming! :-)

Mike

WSB June 25, 2012 (7:15 am)

An update – the donor who contacted us literally moments after we published the story (and asked to be anonymous) has ordered a new wagon that should be heading Megan’s way within a few days. Besides those who commented here, we received several offers via e-mail too, a heartening display of community caring. To Mike’s point, I don’t see wagons on the WestSide Baby wish list (they are the major nonprofit around here that helps families with small children) BUT if you realize you have one you just don’t need any more, you might contact them to ask if they would take it, or might know who would. http://www.westsidebaby.org/default/how-to-give
.
TR

Jennifer June 25, 2012 (7:29 am)

And this is why I love West Seattle! Wonderful people! Hugs to all of you….

Marty June 25, 2012 (8:24 am)

Brad: Sounds like you have a wonderful daughter!

westcoastdeb June 25, 2012 (8:36 am)

Thank you, West Seattle, for making my Monday morning so much better. I love how ‘human’ this community is!

WestSide Baby June 25, 2012 (8:51 am)

Thank you Tracy for thinking of WestSide Baby. We do have a great need for strollers but do not have many requests for wagons. I think its because those we serve are often bus riders but that are also bulky to store for us. What a great story of how bad luck turns good.

J June 25, 2012 (9:05 am)

Tracy – would you be able to contact the person who ordered the new wagon to find out if the wagon is designed to accommodate a lock? If so, I would donate a lock so that she is able to make sure this doesn’t happen again.. or at least try.

Kudos to all the kind people here! It’s heartwarming!

miws June 25, 2012 (9:27 am)

A couple more, not in West Seattle, (although each has certainly served many a WS family), are Children’s Hospital, and Treehouse.

I’ll research those shortly.

Mike

EPanther June 25, 2012 (9:30 am)

I have lived in West Seattle since moving to this coast in 1995. This is why. I feel like I’m part of a community. Yes, there are people who do things that are unkind or unhelpful. The number who do the right thing, and go above and beyond, far outnumber the others.

Thank you to all of my neighbors, you remind me that I am part of something greater than myself.

Gregg S June 25, 2012 (9:31 am)

Who steals something like that? Why? What is wrong with some people. When my son was only 2, his grandmother watch as a lady jumped out of a car, ran up to our stoop, and stole his tricycle from right infront of our door. This was on Alki no less.

To whomever you are who stole this wagon; I hope someday something dear to you is also taken but that you do not get the same level of compassion as Maggie has received from our community. Shame.

Lachlan June 25, 2012 (9:43 am)

Awesome. Lots of good in this thread. Keep it up, West Seattle!

miws June 25, 2012 (10:39 am)

Okay,it looks like Children’s can only take new items, due to concerns of infection.

I poked around a little, on Treehouse‘s website, and couldn’t find info either way, as to whether they could/would take used wagons.

Treehouse is a great organization that helps Foster kids/families, and I know of at least one WSB’er, that a few years ago, generously donated proceeds from her “I’m getting married, and we need to get rid of the duplicate stuff” sale! :-)

Mike

Brad June 25, 2012 (2:00 pm)

maybe we can put all of these wagons to work. We can all get together and go around and fill the wagons with goods for the West Seattle Food Bank.

bosslady June 25, 2012 (2:19 pm)

When our kids were toddlers (about 7 years ago)a friend’s red, plastic, 2 seater wagon was stolen from Hiawatha play area — it still had both our girls’ sippy cups in the cup holders! We had stepped away to go for a short walk and came back to no wagon. Maybe they need lojacks?

happy June 25, 2012 (8:58 pm)

Mike in WS-
.
Thanks for researching!
.
For those who would like to donate wagons, how about giving them to the consignment shops in the area? The shops can sell the wagons for very little so that families who don’t qualify for other places (Westside Baby, etc.) can still get something useful– and affordable. I know that when my kids were young, I couldn’t afford a wagon (thanks, enormous medical bills!), but didn’t qualify for places like Westside Baby. It sure would have been nice to have had a wagon!

Sorry, comment time is over.