One day after a Fourth of July crook stole power tools from a home being built for a disabled Iraq war veteran, community members today rushed to replace the lost items.
Tracy and Matt Keil received a call Friday that someone had broken into storage units at the Parker home being built especially for them. Army Staff Sgt. Matt Keil was paralyzed when a sniper’s bullet pierced his spine in Feb. 2007, and the nonprofit group Homes for Our Troops has teamed up with Pulte Homes to build the handicapped-accessible home for the Keils.
Tracy Keil said today she has received dozens of e-mails and phone calls from people offering support or new tools after the theft.
“It’s been the whole Denver metro area,” Tracy Keil said. “As far as the news reaches, we’ve received e-mails.”
She said the store manager at the local Home Depot offered Saturday to replace the tools that were taken.
“We were completely surprised,” Tracy Keil said. “It was just the nicest thing for them to do. We were really happy because the tools were all volunteers’ tools.”
Parker Home Depot store manager Glenn Richardson called the decision a “no-brainer” chance to give back to someone in the community.
“We’re just waiting to see what they need,” Richardson said. “If I can give them everything, I’ll give them everything.”
Tracy Keil said the outpouring is heartening, letting the family know that Matt’s sacrifice is appreciated.
“We’ve had a lot of support since he was injured,” she said.
“Our community has really come together to help us build this home.”
John Ingold: 303-954-1068 or jingold@denverpost.com.
