Food Bank In O.C. Devastated By Theft Of Holiday Toys Intended For Needy Kids
BUENA PARK (CBSLA.com) — A popular food pantry in Orange County is disappointed after learning that someone stole toys for needy kids.
The thefts occurred at the Buena Park Coordinating Council facility, which is located in the 7900 block of Whitaker Street.
The toys had been collected for every child that signed up for the group's toy giveaway this weekend.
"This is all I have for a thousand families," said Concha De La Cruz, the director. "We're not gonna make it."
De La Cruz says they were already low on donations this year.
She suspects that a couple of volunteers were involved in the theft Wednesday.
"They're the lowest thing in this world, of men to be in this world, that could do that to children," she said.
De La Cruz filed a police report.
In the meantime, she said she had contacted one of the volunteers. She says the volunteer initially claimed he was going to bring back the toys so she told police she wasn't going to file charges.
But, she says, all that was returned were a couple of dolls.
"I was trying to be a good Samaritan, trying to be a good person in my heart but they weren't good in their hearts to do this to my children," she said.
De La Cruz says she will now press charges.
Longtime volunteer Sadie Payne says the suspects came from a nearby sober living house and had been helping out for a couple of months.
"We trusted these people coming in and had no idea," said Payne.
After serving the Buena Park community for 38 years, De La Cruz says she feels responsible and is scrambling to give all the kids something this holiday.
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