Anger is constructing in Brooklyn after toys meant for kids in want had been stolen from a vacation donation drive tied to a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve program that helps navy households nationwide.
Toys donated for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program had been stolen from the district workplace of New York Rep. William Colton, a Democrat who represents District 47, within the Gravesend part of Brooklyn. The theft possible occurred Thursday, in line with Colton’s workplace, simply days earlier than the toys had been scheduled to be picked up and distributed to native youngsters.
Workers stated the donation field had been positioned close to the entrance entrance to make it simpler for neighbors to drop off presents, however it was later moved inside after the theft was found.
Army.com reached out for remark to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, the Marine Toys for Tots Basis, and the Brooklyn Borough President’s Workplace.
Theft Brings Neighborhood Collectively
The theft left lots of people, together with Colton, flummoxed.
“We don’t know why somebody selected to steal toys donated to be given to youngsters who’re much less lucky. However we now have discovered, for the reason that unlucky occasion, that different persons are actually giving,” Colton advised Army.com.
The incident has, nonetheless, galvanized the group throughout a time of yr when empathy is usually on show.
“Within the final couple of days, there was an outpouring of help that warms my coronary heart,” Colton stated. “I hope when that is over that we now have much more toys for these youngsters than we might have, had the theft not occurred. And, certainly, we are going to do every little thing we are able to to be sure that the youngsters don’t lose out due to this.”
Colton’s workplace stated workers relocated the donation field deeper contained in the workplace following the theft so it might be monitored extra intently.
A Marine Corps Program Serving Households Nationwide
Toys for Tots operates hundreds of native assortment campaigns throughout the nation every year, a lot of them coordinated by Marine reservists and volunteers who oversee donation drives, warehouse sorting, and distribution of their communities.
This system delivers vacation presents to thousands and thousands of youngsters yearly and depends closely on group belief to make sure toys positioned in native assortment containers attain households earlier than Christmas.
Native donation containers function the spine of the Toys for Tots distribution system, permitting residents, companies and navy households to contribute toys which can be later sorted and delivered inside the similar group. When toys are taken from these assortment factors, it may well scale back out there stock and complicate last-minute distribution efforts—particularly as deadlines method for getting presents into the fingers of youngsters.
Neighbors Voice Anger Over Toy Theft
Individuals who reside and work close to the workplace stated the theft struck a nerve throughout the vacation season.
“That’s unhappy,” a person named Ralph advised Army.com. “This isn’t the time of the yr for that. Someone’s going to be struggling due to that.”
One other resident, Estelle, stated the incident displays a broader sample she has seen of an increase in neighborhood thefts.
“I exploit doorbell cameras now, and I’m seeing consistently what number of issues are being stolen off of individuals’s porches,” she advised Army.com.
Others stated the actual fact the toys had been supposed for neighborhood youngsters made the theft really feel particularly private.
The New York Police Division stated it doesn’t at present have a report linked to the theft.
“There is no such thing as a report on file with the knowledge offered,” an NYPD spokesperson advised Army.com.
Officers didn’t say whether or not surveillance cameras inside or close to the workplace captured the incident.
Colton’s workplace stated toy donations are nonetheless being accepted throughout common enterprise hours by means of Dec. 19.
