TEMPLE, Texas — A retired Temple firefighter said someone stole a beloved fire wagon from his front yard, but after KCEN Channel 6 aired a story about his misfortune, he was in for a surprise.
LeRoy Vargas said his wife told him on Thursday to get to the door after the doorbell rang.
Once he got there, he was touched by what he saw.
When interviewed on Wednesday, Vargas said he received a fire wagon as a gift when he was battling cancer. He used it for yard art, and it had a lot of sentimental value to him.
He said unfortunately, there's been a lot vandalism going on in his neighborhood and someone took the wagon from his yard.
Thursday, the Temple Fire Department along with members of the Nextdoor community surprised him with a brand new wagon.
“I couldn’t believe it, and at the same time I wasn't surprised,” said Vargas. “Next-Door is about neighbors helping neighbors, and being kind, and watching out for one another. So, it didn’t surprise me at all that they reached out to me. They reached out to me on social media in private messages and offered me words of encouragement and that was just a blessing."
Vargas said his neighbors told him they too had things stolen from their yard and felt his disappointment. He said he plans to place the new wagon back in his yard this weekend.
Vargas retired from the Temple Fire Department after 35 years of service. He said he has been cancer free for five years.
Nextdoor is a private social network that helps neighbors connect with one another in their neighborhood.