ELLENTON, Fla. - Free community dinners and veterans fundraisers have been forced to come to a halt at the American Legion Post 325 in Ellenton. 

According to Kevin Tracy, Commander with Sons of the American Legion, their massive grill was stolen from the back of the property just before sunset on May 26. He realized it was gone when he arrived to the post the next morning.  The chain and padlock that were wrapped around the grill had been cut and a video surveillance camera that overlooked the area had its wires pulled out. 

“To me its very personal,” he said. “To steal from a veterans organization when we were using that to help our veterans and their families, to me it doesn’t get any lower.” 

The grill could hold 40 slabs of meat at a time and the group was using it every Thursday night during the Coronavirus pandemic to feed the community through drive-thru dinners. Now, they have had to call the dinners off and can’t cook for their own veteran members. 

“I can’t understand why somebody would be so cruel as to take something from the veterans,” said Commander Tom Walls. “We have that grill here to serve the people who serve the country and we can’t do that right now.” 

Tracy filed a report with the Manatee County Sheriffs Office. They are looking for the drivers of a maroon mid-90’s Nissan Pathfinder and a white Chevy truck. The Nissan Pathfinder was caught on a nearby business surveillance camera leaving the parking lot with the grille hooked to its trailer. 

The commanders of the American Legion Post say they just want the grill returned. 

“If they bring it back, just drop it off back there and we’ll be happy,” Walls said. 

If you have any information regarding the two vehicles of interest you’re asked to contact the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.