A Toronto man was overcome with gratefulness after his co-workers and members of the public helped replace stolen goods meant for a homeless shelter.

Thomas Aquino was devastated when 450 pairs of socks and two bags of canned goods meant for the Good Shepherd homeless shelter were stolen from his van.

After a public plea to help replace the stolen items, it was the people from his workplace, East-Court Ford Lincoln, who stepped up. Aquino and his coworkers held raffles and barbecues to raise money to buy new pairs of socks.

“(It’s to) help one of our own and get back what was taken from him and his church,” said Phil Temple, a co-worker of Aquino’s.

The group gathered enough donations to nearly double Aquino’s original number of socks, collecting more than 800 pairs.

“We are very grateful,” said Aquino. “I’m sure the homeless of Good Shepherd will be very happy with these brand new socks.”

Aquino hopes that whoever took the socks and canned goods from his van can also do the right thing and turn in the goods to the homeless shelter.

“Please show a bit of kindness and drop them off at the Good Shepherd,” Aquino said. “Maybe add some canned goods too.”

With a report from CTV Toronto