Late Homeless Advocate's Bronco Stolen; SUV Used to Haul Food to Walnut Creek's Fresh Start

Sometime over the weekend, a thief stole the 1996 Ford Bronco that is known around Walnut Creek as the SUV used by Fresh Start, the homeless respite center at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

The Bronco formerly belonged to Susan Prather, the late executive director of Fresh Start who was a well-known advocate for the East Bay's homeless. It bore the distinctive vanity license plates with the words "AGITATE." Prather died of a sudden illness in 2008.

Robin Lunghi, volunteer services director, said Fresh Start uses the Bronco to haul food from area food banks to the center on Trinity Avenue. Fresh Start staff and volunteers last saw the Bronco parked in the church lot across the street late Thursday afternoon. Fresh Start is open to provide meals and other services to clients on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Lunghi said when staff arrived at the church Tuesday morning, the Bronco was missing. She said they had filed a report with the Walnut Creek Police Department.

Anyone with information about the missing truck is asked to call the Walnut Creek Police Department 925-943-5844.