Tulsa Dream Center Vans Vandalized

A Tulsa nonprofit is cleaning up after vandals damaged three of their vans they use to transport meals.

The Tulsa Dream Center said teens climbed their back fence to get inside. Executive Director Aaron Johnson said they've been using those vans to deliver meals to families in need throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

So far, they've delivered more than 1.3 million meals, but they suffered a minor setback when teens broke into their back lot this week.

Johnson said they came in Wednesday morning to discover all three vans had their windshields smashed and the cushions and seats were destroyed - as well as some cameras. Vandals also set off fire extinguishers inside of the vans.

Surveillance video from the center near 46 Street North and MLK shows teens climbing the fence and then causing the damage, but not taking anything. Johnson said they quickly identified the vandals as some kids from the neighborhood, but after some discussions, decided not to file charges. Instead, they will be mentoring the teens and having them do community service.

He said this won't stop the Dream Center from helping people. "We're hopeful that throughout this we're going to continue to do what we do and not focus on the damage that happened, but now focus on how we can be a part of life change and mentoring the young individuals that were a part of that," said Johnson.

A glass company finished repairing the windshields on Thursday afternoon.

Last summer, somebody burned down the Dream Center's playground, and the rebuilding of that should be finished in just a couple of weeks.