CLEVELAND — Gertrude Forest is a family woman with a passion for helping others.
"She wears her heart on her sleeve," her grandson, Shawn Hilliard said. "To see someone that constantly gives 24-7, 365 days of the year -- my heart was drawn, pulled by that."
At 81, she regularly drives her friends and community members to doctor's appointments, physical therapy or grocery store runs.
"All they've got to do is let me know they need something done and I will help them anyway I can," she said.
But last month, her good deeds came to a screeching halt, when someone stole her 24-year-old minivan right from her driveway on Union Avenue in Cleveland.
"My grandson called me. He said, 'Well, your van's not in the yard,'" Gertrude said.
She filed a police report, then the impound lot.
"Called the impound like every other day or so to see if it's there and it hasn't been," Gertrude said.
Despite this being the second time a car has been stolen from her, Gertrude says this time hurts more because the van was a gift from her late friend.
"That was given to me and I visit people when they're sick. I got a friend that's sick off and on. I would go and visit in the hospital," Gertrude said through tears.
"My grandmother is extremely selfless. So it's amazing that at 81 years old, she's still mobile, she's still independent. And for some individuals, she's their lifeline as well," said Sharayle Hilliard, Gertrude's granddaughter.
Gertrude's instinct for kindness runs so deep, it still shines, even through a broken heart.
"It's no ill will, but it is upsetting that someone would steal my van," she said. "But yeah, I forgive them. I try to forgive anybody that does anything to me. I try to forgive them."
Gertrude says that her van did have an anti-theft lock in place and that she has her keys. Cleveland police say they have no leads yet.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe account has been started to help Gertrude get a replacement vehicle. To help her out, click HERE.
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