By Spencer Sterritt

Nanaimo not-for-profits triumph after thefts

Aug 30, 2017 | 2:24 PM

NANAIMO — Nanaimo’s close-knit community has rallied behind several not-for-profit charities who suffered serious thefts in recent weeks.

Last week the Fresh Start program, who donate backpacks full of supplies to young students going back to school, discovered their storage space had been robbed and 20 backpacks were stolen.

Dave Lawrence, organizer and also owner of That 50’s Barbershop downtown, said he was incredibly disappointed and shocked by the theft but now he’s heartened by the outpouring of support from the community to help.

“It’s amazing what the community can come together and do,” he told NanaimoNewsNOW. “The phone’s been ringing off the hook of people wanting to know what kind of donations they can make. People all day have been coming in with backpacks and tons of supplies.”

Even while speaking to NanaimoNewsNOW, several people entered his barbershop with donations, talking about how they’d challenged friends and co-workers to match their donations.

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Lawrence said even a homeless individual downtown used what small amount of change they had to buy some pencils from the dollar store to donate.

“That’s amazing, people who can’t even afford it are helping,” Lawrence said. “That says a whole lot about the community in Nanaimo.”

Fresh Start wasn’t the only not-for-profit targetted by thieves.

On Friday, Aug. 18, $4,000 worth of solar panels were stolen from the roof of Nanaimo Foodshare, which the organization said was a major loss.

Though the solar panels are covered by insurance, Nanaimo Foodshare owes $2,000 to cover the deductible and new security measures.

In only a few days, nearly $1,000 was raised online (link: https://www.canadahelps.org/dn/31700) to help the organization and any extra money will be used for their existing programs.

Also, a donation box with roughly $500 inside was brazenly stolen from the ReStore, which sells new and used household items and furniture to raise money for Nanaimo’s Habitat for Humanity.

Sarah Pachkowsky with Habitat for Humanity said since news of their theft was heard by the community, many contractors have come forward offering to replace half the money stolen and donations are flowing into the store.

If anyone has information about the various thefts, they’re urged to call Nanaimo RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

spencer@nanaimo.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit