WESTLAKE, Ohio — Youth Challenge, a local nonprofit organization in Northeast Ohio that provides transportation for people with physical disabilities to sports and recreational activities, had to cancel its programs for the rest of the week after catalytic converters from most of their vans were stolen on Monday.
The nonprofit, which has locations in Westlake and Shaker Heights, picks up youth from their home or school using lift-equipped vans and transports them to sports and recreational activities across Northeast Ohio, among providing other services and programs.
In a police report filed with Westlake police, five vehicles at the organization's Westlake location on Sharon Drive had their catalytic converters stolen.
A spokesperson for Youth Challenge Sports said 90% of children they work with rely on their vans to get them to and from their programs, so until they are back up and running, they will have to cancel the programs.
In the same area as Youth Challenge Sports on Sharon Drive, another business had three catalytic converters cut them off, according to police.
Since Youth Challenge Sports relies solely on donations from the community, the organization will have to raise funds to replace the stolen catalytic converters from the vans.
Those interested in making a donation can click here.
