Stealing Goodness

   Thieves stole expensive tools and the goodwill method of  two retired men. Willis Hankins specializes in installing tile and donates profit from his home improvement jobs mission field. But someone stole not only their tools but the lifeblood of funding this charity.

   The two men were installing tile inside an East Ridge home and two cut locks remain in the driveway; reminders of the damage done.

     The dog behind the house under renovation knew something was wrong Saturday night around 11:00 o'clock, barking incessantly.Earlier, Willis Hankins and Jerry Harrison were tiling three rooms inside this house.

    After knocking off for the day, the men locked up their trailer with this key lock and heavy duty yellow lock. The retired men had a $700 dollar 10" wet saw and other expensive tools inside the trailer. But someone cut both locks and stole everything, including the trailer.

    The crime disheartened Hankins. "We're kind of in a bad spot. The reason we're so concerned is we want to finish this job. Because our monies are going to help some people in Nicaragua," Hankins said.

  Hankins gives his time and money to "Wings Over Nicaragua," a Christian mission group that flies in help. On its website, you see pictures of an injured man being loaded into this plane for faster medical help.

   Meanwhile, Hankins did tile work during his recent retirement. But when the economy tanked, so did his work load. He prayed to give profits to this ministry and the jobs started piling up. On the mission's website, you can see pictures of  a church being built. He helped the group start this project from the ground up.

    From the East Ridge job, the pair expected to send up to $1,500 to Nicaragua. But they need about three full work days to finish and get paid. For now, they're at a standstill. "The Lord can make something good out of something bad. This is what we are hoping," Hankins said.

    The man with his hand on Hankins shoulder is his partner Jerry Harrison. They met through their ham radio hobby. Although Harrison is legally blind, he actually makes out the tile lines and keeps Willis "straight."

   And although these two generous men are out $5, 300, they are not giving up. Harrison acknowledged this crime puts what they believe to the test. "We understand that our faith keeps our strength up and there is something good will come out of it. We hope the good will come out of that these people will realize what they have done," Harrison said.

  The two men and the East Ridge Police Department are looking for your help. The trailer is white, ten feet long and five feet wide.

It has a Hamilton County tag, "U 0-6-0-9-0-5." The trailer is a Brand Horton Hauler and has a very distinctive feature, an 8 by 10 inch black rubber flap over the back door lock.  If you have seen this trailer, contact East Ridge Police.