'It's like being down and having somebody come and kick you'
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SEATTLE - A heartless thief stole a disabled woman's moving van - just as she was about to rise out of homelessness to a better life.
The loss has devastated Bernida Simmons.
The stolen moving truck was parked outside Jubilee Women's Center - and it was filled with far more than belongings. It held a struggling homeless woman's future.
"It's all gone ... it's all gone," says Bernida, wiping her eyes.
She was about to move into her own apartment after years of homelessness. Her dear friend Mary Moody finished loading the truck for her Saturday.
Both are residents at the women's center, and both have health problems that make it hard to get around. Both were stunned when they discovered the moving truck missing this morning.
"I know it's just stuff, but, you know, it would have given me the opportunity to start my little business without the overhead of cost of the yarn," says Bernida.
More than $1,000 worth of top-quality yarn was in the stolen truck. Bernida was planning to craft it into beautiful things.
"I learned when I was about 10, 11 years old," she says.
But it was Mary who convinced Bernida that she could earn a living selling her pillows, scarves, gloves and hats.
"She's been crocheting since she was a little girl. She really didn't know how awesome she was," says Mary.
The dream, for now, is as empty as the driveway. The only clue, a muddy tire track, leads to nowhere.
"It's like being down and still having somebody just come and kick you," says Bernida.
The stolen truck is a 14-foot U-Haul with a graphic of a huge smiling spider on the side.
Police are on the case, and other residents of the shelter are out looking. But so far, the U-Haul van has not turned up.
The loss has devastated Bernida Simmons.
The stolen moving truck was parked outside Jubilee Women's Center - and it was filled with far more than belongings. It held a struggling homeless woman's future.
"It's all gone ... it's all gone," says Bernida, wiping her eyes.
She was about to move into her own apartment after years of homelessness. Her dear friend Mary Moody finished loading the truck for her Saturday.
Both are residents at the women's center, and both have health problems that make it hard to get around. Both were stunned when they discovered the moving truck missing this morning.
"I know it's just stuff, but, you know, it would have given me the opportunity to start my little business without the overhead of cost of the yarn," says Bernida.
More than $1,000 worth of top-quality yarn was in the stolen truck. Bernida was planning to craft it into beautiful things.
"I learned when I was about 10, 11 years old," she says.
But it was Mary who convinced Bernida that she could earn a living selling her pillows, scarves, gloves and hats.
"She's been crocheting since she was a little girl. She really didn't know how awesome she was," says Mary.
The dream, for now, is as empty as the driveway. The only clue, a muddy tire track, leads to nowhere.
"It's like being down and still having somebody just come and kick you," says Bernida.
The stolen truck is a 14-foot U-Haul with a graphic of a huge smiling spider on the side.
Police are on the case, and other residents of the shelter are out looking. But so far, the U-Haul van has not turned up.
Just so folks know, two women got robbed in this incident. Â The other woman is Celeste Tanner, and she could use some help and support, too! Â More details here:http://mynorthwest.com/?sid=2168829&nid=651
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I am a Professional Chef with my own small business. I know what it is like to struggle to start up a small business. Â I have extra kitchen equipment, and I would be happy to donate some of it to Bernida. How can I do this?Â
Please Komo! Let us know how we can help!
I have crocheted for many years and have a stash f about ten contractor bags full of wonderful yarns. Would be happy to donate some raw materials and hooks that she can sell, or make some items for her that she could sell as finished product. Not sure how all of these offers of help from various folks will get organized, but I would love to be a part of it for sure! For the card making supplies, perhaps a drive through social media would help to gather replacement items, as well as clothing or needed household items...? Ideas anyone? How do we pull it all together?Â
From the majority of the comments below it seems as though this wonderful woman will be back on her feet in no time. Just reading these comments has brought a little more faith in humanity back for me. Donating doesn't give me the warm fuzzies, it's seeing people like her succeed. I would like to see a follow up on this as well.
Gee, where is the "personal accountability" crowd in this thread? They sure are awful quiet.
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And here I thought, according to the "personal accountability" crowd, that all homeless people were just looking for a handout and have no interest in self-improvement. The 47% that are professional victims.
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Nah - bad things NEVER happen to good people.
@Howard Beale Howard, I fully believe in personal accountability, and I think you're completely out in left field on this one. This lady is someone I would support, because she is putting the effort forth to better her life.
@Howard Beale your comment brought negativity where none was, what was your purpose with that?
...yes, and I would like to volunteer to help anyway.
This kind of stuff just breaks my heart. I am so totally disgusted by people that think its okay to steal from others.
terribly sad story - lots of heartless folks out there unfortunately.
I'm thinking that both ladies need clothes and other personal belongings, also. If this is the case, can someone please list their sizes & other needs? Thanks, Sharon
@sharonbmad as I said above..
Sadly, life is like that. When you're down you are down you're more vulnerable, and it's not uncommon to have bad things happening to you. I hope the community will react and help her, I can donate a little so I'll see if I can find out where to go to send her some present or something.
Some people are evil, just plain evil. Not to minimize what happened to Bernida, but I hope the thief (s) are suprised and disappointed at their loot and abandon the truck with no damage or anything missing.
Stay classy Seattle.
My heart goes out for you, Bernida. Unfortunately there are evil people amongst us who don't care. I have sent you a monetary donation thru Komo not only to show how much we care, but good shall prevail over evil. God bless you. Jim T.
A U-Haul truck with a spider on the side? Come on Seattle, this can't be too hard to miss. If anyone sees this, please call law enforcement.
@SusieQ Sadly I see this particular design on the side of U-hauls on a weekly basis.
That's just wrong, who would dare steal James Earl Jones moving van...
 @Aidenag Her situation is bad enough and you have to make a stupid joke? Evil reaps evil and when you say and do bad things, it comes back to you. Isn't your character more important than your opportunity to make fun of someone? Shame on you.
in hard times people r down, lower than, and that you failed. to protect your life line, letting it fall into the hands of the worst off , then you can be stronger and wiser to those needing what you were able to provide at your cost.let it go in vain and as you must seek in vain to gain what is lost, be strong ! now a little american stuff.. until this truck is found or replaced by helpers. wake up and provide your self with insurance, you lost alot that having it insured could of helped out alot! wish the best for you
 @maggie112 Your post is incoherent and sounds as if you're blaming her for the theft of the van.
 @tats76  @maggie112 I don't know if she's blaming her for the theft of the truck but suggesting someone completely broke and homeless protect themselves with insurance (and other luxuries of the middle class these days) is as incoherent as the writing in that post.
 @Julia Yes, I agree with you on that as well. Maggie112's post is bewildering in its rambling.
@Julia From what I have read of Maggie112, most their posts are incoherent.
I just saw this on the news and emailed the shelter to ask if we could send stash yarn directly there Does anyone know if there is a Ravelry group to support her yet?
 @Kate No Idea, I do know I have more than enough yarn in my stash that I will use any time soon. I am more than willing to donate some.
 @lovestolearn  @Kate The article fails to mention that Bernida's was not the only stuff in this Van. She was going to help a housemate, who was also moving from the shelter to her new apartment.  That person does Paper crafts, custom greeting cards.  So if people are looking to help these women it would be cool to help them both. Each was FINALLY coming up out of a long dark walk into some light.  I would suggest people interested in helping contact the shelter.
@A Nony Mouse @lovestolearn I happen to have card making supplies too...
 @Kate I was just thinking the same thing. I imagine they'll want to wait to get it to her, until she's safely in her new home. I think the most pressing need is everything else she lost. Once that's settle, the yarn will certainly help her financially.Â
 @DT  @Kate It might help those who want to help to know - Bernida was helping a fellow resident who was also getting to move out. She had allowed this person to put her clothes and other items in truck.  This person's new home business was to be Card Making. All of her supplies were also stolen with the truck.  I am sure each of these ladies would be deeply grateful for any help others want to offer.
Thieves are the scum of society. The bottom. Hope these get what they deserve.
It's a shame that this story completely left out the second resident who had also finally gotten permanent housing arranged. Bernina had space to spare and offered to help her fellow resident move, but both of them ended up losing everything. While the other woman is a rather private person, I suspect she'd rather not be completely invisible in this case! She even lost her pantry items that she'd managed to get from the food bank and is trying to figure out how to eat tonight. :-(Â
 @A. Nony Mouse There are those of us who wish to donate to the second woman. Is she the second woman mentioned in the article or is she another person?
 @queenofthenight  @A. Nony Mouse I can confirm that there is a second woman who lost everything she had. She was interviewed on Dori Monson's radio show Monday afternoon.
 @queenofthenight She is another person who is not metioned at all in the coverage.Â
The problem is that it is going to take her a long time to replace the items she has finished. On top of that the creeps probably will destroy what they can't peddle.
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 @minniemouse I am planning to offer my services as a crocheter and knitter to help her make up for some of the lost finished items. I'll call the shelter today and ask if that would help. Other things to think about - these ladies will need underwear and socks - things that need to be purchased new and probably won't be as easy to replace from the items at the Jubilee store.
 @76trombones  @minniemouse Ditto here! I have crocheted for many years and have a stash f about ten contractor bags full of wonderful yarns. Would be happy to donate some raw materials. hooks that she can sell, or make some items for her that she could sell as finished product. Not sure how all of these offers of help from various folks will get organized, but I would love to be a part of it for sure! Fpr the card making supplies, perhaps a drive through social media would help to gather replacement items, as well as clothing or needed household items...? Ideas anyone? How do we pull it all together?Â
I'm sending some yarn and other household items to Jubilee Women's Center, where she had been staying, and my business card in case she ever has any small business related questions. Their address is Jubilee Women's Center | 620 18th Ave East | Seattle, WA 98112. Maybe those of you with knitting supplies can send yours there as well.
 @Tracy Zhu I wonder if it's wise to deluge them with supplies just yet.  Perhaps a call to the shelter first, to find out when would be a good time to send those things (instead of having her transporting it to her new place as she's trying to recover things.)  Hearts are in the right place, but really people should check with the Shelter, first, to find out what's needed and specifically when.Â
 @DT  @Tracy Zhu I would have thought that it would be best not to deluge them, too, but Celeste (the second woman who was robbed along with Bernida) told me to have people mail things to them in care of the shelter. So I guess it's ok.
 @DT  @Tracy Zhu Great idea DT. It may take these women a while to collect themselves up to do their respective moves.  It was actually two women, one a paper crafter the other a knitter.  At this point they are with out simple things, like clothing.  I would suggest a call  or email before deluging the shelter.  So glad to see so many willing to help.
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 @Tracy Zhu Thanks for the info, Tracy. I've got quite a bit of yarn and needles that I can send along to the shelter for her.
So very sad Bernida. I hope they find who ever has done this and give them a long jail time.
I went to news Icon above and clicked on problem solvers. There it says donate. That is where you can donate. You have to click that it goes to general fund but In the instruction box you write, "for Bernida Simmons" that way it will go to her. I have done this once before and those were the instructions KOMO gave to make sure it went directly to that person. So Bernida help is on the way!. I am so sorry for your loss. We love you. There are good people out here too. Start smiling again.
 @dalevic I did the same thing regarding my donation, so it would go to her. Hopefully she will get enough help to replace what she lost....
 @dalevic Thank you for the info.Â
Find them and kill them.