Together We Cope gets helping hand

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Chris King, President Robinson Engineering (right), along with Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki (left) present a check to Kathryn Straniero, Executive Director Together We Cope, to cover the insurance deductible for stolen catalytic converters from their truck at Together We Cope in Tinley Park, Illinois, Friday, February, 3, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 6, 2012 8:20AM

A Tinley Park man who heard that a local nonprofit would struggle to deliver food to the needy because of thieves made a delivery of his own Friday.

Chris King, the president of South Holland-based Robinson Engineering, presented a $500 check to Together We Cope to cover its insurance deductible after two catalytic converters were stolen from the truck it uses to get food from the Chicago Food Depository.

King’s gesture was made after he read about Together We Cope’s plight last week in a story by SouthtownStar columnist Phil Kadner.

“It really made an impact on me, and got me thinking about what I could do to help Together We Cope continue their mission of assisting families who are in crisis,” King said.

Thieves last weekend cut the converters off the truck as it was parked behind the organization’s headquarters, 17010 Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park. Catalytic converters contain precious metals that can be sold for cash.

The truck is used to pick up several thousand pounds of food each week from the Chicago Food Depository for use at the Together We Cope food pantry, used by about 60 families a day.

The estimated cost of replacing the catalytic converters is $1,400. Together We Cope has an insurance policy with a $500 deductible.

For information on how to help Together We Cope, visit togetherwecope.org or call (708) 633-5040.