The NW Goldberg Community is devastated after more than 400 pairs of sneakers to be handed out to kids were stolen.
The theft comes just before the major NW Goldberg Cares HOOPFEST event this weekend at Curtis Jones Park. Located at 1941 Ferry Park, this is the neighborhood’s flagship recreation space. It features a full-size NBA-style basketball court, night lighting, a pavilion, a walking loop, and a playground.
Daniel Washington, who has led NW Goldberg Cares for a nearly a decade, told WXYZ News that he “Walked in the back of the building and saw a bunch of boxes and bags thrown about, empty, and I was immediately devastated.”
According to WXYZ, “among the stolen items were Asics, Adidas, and Nikes that had been donated by USA Basketball.” The value has been estimated at around $40,000.
Detroit police say they are investigating, but no arrests have been made so far.
Washington speculated that it was a case of “Wrong place, wrong time when it came to us having some shoes delivered to us on Tuesday of last week. I think someone saw us and said I’m going to take what’s not mine.” He added, “It’s frustrating, it’s heartbreaking because at the end of the day, we’re just trying to do some good.”
“At the end of the day, we’re going to try to bounce back from this,” Washington told Click on Detroit. “But it is one of those things that just hits you in the gut.”
The theft left the organization with 400-500 pairs of shoes remaining, but may fall short of their 1,000-pair goal.
The NW Goldberg community has been committed to enhancing its public spaces. The CJ Park was completed in 2022 and a vacant lot at the intersection of McGraw Avenue and 16th Street into a 2,200 sq. ft. pocket park.
NW Goldberg Cares community development corporation (CDC) set an ambitious goal of building 20 public community greenspaces in its neighborhood by the end of 2025 with the help of the Gilbert Family Foundation and other community partners.
HOOPFEST is NW Goldberg Cares is the organization’s signature event, and it will go on July 17-19. To support NW Goldberg Cares after the recent theft, monetary or shoe donations can be made online.
