Local donors help replace stolen Christmas gifts

Many people are donating toys to a Maplewood, Minn., man after a thief stole a truckload of toys meant for needy children.

The 20 garbage bags of toys headed for Webster Elementary School in North St. Paul were in David Grupa's sport utility vehicle. His SUV was stolen from a friend's driveway in Anoka, Minn., Tuesday morning after Grupa picked up the toys from a donation site.

The SUV was recovered, but the toys were gone.

Grupa says his heart sank when he discovered the toys were stolen. But now he's overwhelmed with the response.

"It's one of those things that just totally restores your faith in people and let's you know that the ones who are doing these nasty things are so so few. The general public is just so excited to hop on board and support something like this," says Grupa.

Grupa says donors have probably contributed ten times the amount that was lost. Comedian Louie Anderson and former Minnesota Timberwolves player Richard Coffey are among the people who have pledged donations of toys and money to make up for the loss.