Tools stolen from Gresham man who started lawn care business at age 12

A Gresham man, Aaron Martinez, has been nurturing his lawn care business, Meadowlark Property and Land Management, since he was just 12 years old. However, last Monday, he faced a major setback when someone stole his truck, leaving him without the necessary tools to continue his work and provide for his family. "I was stressed I wasn't going to be able to make money for my family," he said, recalling the moment he discovered his truck was missing while out with his mother.

Martinez's venture began with a $300 gift from his biological father, which he initially contemplated using to buy a gaming console. Instead, his stepfather suggested investing in lawn equipment, sparking the start of a business that would expand significantly through his teenage years. He reminisces about his early days driving around in his mom's car, knocking on doors to offer his services despite facing many rejections.

The theft of his truck was particularly devastating, as it contained various power tools essential for his work. Fortunately, the larger equipment stored elsewhere was unharmed, and Gresham Police quickly located the abandoned truck just a couple of miles away from his home, although it was emptied of all valuable tools.

In response to the setback, Martinez turned to his community for support, launching an online fundraiser to help him recover. Within just three days, he successfully raised nearly $8,000, demonstrating the strength of local solidarity and support.

Grateful for the community's generosity, Martinez expressed his determination to bounce back even stronger from this setback. "It blows me away. I'm extremely grateful," he shared, with hopes of one day being able to help others in a similar situation.