Just weeks after a Calgary teen started his own lawn-care business, he suffered a setback when a key piece of equipment was stolen. Now he’s getting help from the community to get back to business.
Zabian McMillan started That Kid Lawn Care in the Calgary neighbourhood of Auburn Bay about three weeks ago. He had just launched his business and had a lawnmower ready but it was stolen from his dad’s garage on Sunday night.
“I was heartbroken when I walked in there and thought of him,” Zabian’s father, Kieran, said on Thursday.
“This is going to tear him to pieces. It’s part of his passion, so it was rough.”
Kieran took to social media to ask people to keep an eye out for the stolen mower. Instead of tracking it down, a Calgary realtor rallied the community to raise some money. In just a matter of hours, nearly $400 was raised and a brand new mower was purchased for Zabian.
“It’s heartwarming,” Kieran said.
“It was hard knowing it affected Zabian, and to have people come forward, it’s incredible.”
Other people came forward with extra lawn-care tools for the teen. What Zabian doesn’t need, he will pay forward to another neighbourhood kid in need, his father said.