MaaPaa, a South Dallas nonprofit aiding underserved families, seeks community support after their newly acquired storage unit was stolen.
DALLAS — A South Dallas nonprofit that serves underserved families is asking for the community’s help after a newly acquired storage unit was stolen.
“Here is the location where we had our storage unit,” Nelly Cuenca said.
Cuenca runs MaaPaa, a nonprofit that operates out of a neighborhood grocery store and focuses its efforts on helping the unhoused and single mothers and their sons. Much of the work involves distributing donated essentials to families in need.
“The little items that we take for granted on a daily basis those items are treasures for these families,” Nelly said.
But this week, the organization itself needs help.
“It was here on Tuesday night, before Wednesday morning, it’s like it disappeared,” said neighbor Stephanie Cole.
Cuenca says a large storage unit the nonprofit had just acquired about 30 days ago was stolen overnight. She spent nearly a year working to secure the unit, which was meant to store donations for the families MaaPaa serves.
“Please give it back, we’re not even angry. We understand people make mistakes,” she said.
The unit was empty at the time it was taken, but Cuenca says she was excited about filling it with items that would help the community.
Neighbor Stephanie Cole says she has a Ring camera on her home, but it didn’t capture the event.
“I got a bird’s-eye view from across the street. I don’t miss much. My eagle eye had something in it that day,” Cole said.
Cuenca says the storage unit itself is worth more than $100,000, but the mission behind it matters far more. The nonprofit has filed a police report with Dallas Police.
“I just know it’s going to be returned,” she said.
For Cuenca, the unit represents the ability to better serve a community she believes is often overlooked.
“We are called to love on our neighbors,” Nelly said.
The nonprofit has started a GoFundMe to help with the expenses incurred by losing the unit.