Prairie Village – When a 10‑foot trailer and five mowers were stolen from the home of 14‑year‑old entrepreneur Sonny Gallardo on the night before Halloween, the local community rallied to help the young lawn‑care business recover.
Background
Gallardo began mowing lawns at age 10, inspired by his grandfather Tony and his grandmother Monica, who described herself as a lifelong entrepreneur. Over four years he grew his operation, upgrading from a push mower to a small riding mower and, earlier this year, purchasing a 10‑foot trailer to service larger jobs. He operates under the name Sunnyside Jobs LLC.
The theft
According to Monica Gallardo, the trailer was parked in front of their home when an unidentified truck arrived around 3:10 a.m. on October 30 and hooked up the trailer before driving away. Police Captain Josh Putthoff of the Prairie Village Police Department said investigators have not yet identified the vehicle.
Community response
Within days, local lawn‑care companies, YouTube influencers and residents began donating equipment and money. A GoFundMe campaign quickly surpassed its $20,000 goal, raising $33,815 as of Friday morning. Gallardo said the outpouring of support has “overwhelmed” his family and will allow his business to be fully equipped and ready for more work.
Future plans
Gallardo intends to use the new gear to expand his client base and give back to the community by offering free lawn care to elderly residents. He also plans to secure storage for the additional equipment, a top priority for his grandmother.
Contact
Anyone interested in hiring Sunnyside Jobs LLC or volunteering to help seniors with yard work can call (913) 420‑3607.
Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.
