‘Grinch’ strikes charity

A ‘grinch’ or local thieves stole needy children’s Christmas presents, along with clothing and other items outside Cora’s Charities about two weeks prior to Christmas.

Charity Director Cora Neville said Alleghany Memorial Hospital conducted a toy drive and on Dec. 13, Neville was informed of the delivery of the items outside the charity’s location in the Glade Valley flats.

Shortly thereafter, Neville went to the charity site. Upon arrival at the charity, she found the collection box with only one wrapped item inside.

“My heart fell,” Neville said of making the discovery. “I don’t know why they left one item inside the big collection box,” Neville continued. “A community service worker had done 24 hours of community service doing (laundry) in her home and had brought the dry clothing to the building and placed it on the outside. Someone took every bag.

Since the charity provides free clothing, toys and other items, I don’t understand why they don’t ask for the things they need. All they had to do was ask and we would help them in any way we could.”

The items that were stolen from the hospital’s toy drive were left outside the charity location instead of being brought to the Emerson Black Exhibition Building at the Alleghany fairgrounds in Sparta. “I don’t know how many gifts were stolen,” Neville said. “The gifts were taken to the Cora’s Charities location on U.S. 21 South through a misunderstanding.”

Neville stated in a phone conversation Monday night that she did not file a report with local authorities, but she did make them aware of the theft.

“The sheriff (Mike Caudill) said that more patrolling of the area would take place,” Neville said. “I will prosecute anyone involved with stealing items from the charity. It’s a sad day when people steal from the needy.”

The charity had conducted its annual Angel Tree distribution Dec. 11, two days prior to the estimated date of theft. The children unable to attend the distribution were given their toys on Christmas Eve by Neville.

“I had to buy toys two times after the distribution, which would not have been necessary, if the gifts had not been stolen,” she said Monday. Neville noted that if anyone sees theft occurring within the vicinity of the charity to inform the authorities immediately.

“If a community member sees anyone stealing from the charity site, try to get the license plate number and turn it into the law enforcement center,” she said. “I would like to see this stealing stopped.”

Neville said she plans to take steps to help safeguard the charity from future thefts, but declined to specify what steps might be taken.

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