Heartless thieves broke into a storage bin at the Langley Seniors Resource Centre on Wednesday morning, stealing items for their upcoming garage sale.
“This is the only fundraiser we do all year and it’s rotten they would do this,” said Barb Stack, the centre’s executive director.
Last year, the garage sale raised more than $14,000 for the centre. The money went to programs like outreach services and the adult day program.
“What they took has no value for them but plenty of value to our seniors who have donated the goods,” Stack said. “It’s also terrible for all our volunteers who sorted all the donated items and put them in the boxes.”
The garage sale takes place on Nov. 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The community is a huge supporter of this fundraiser. On top of finding a treasure trove of unique and hard to find items, crafts and more, the centre sells food all day, including hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza and popcorn.
The thieves broke the lock off and made off with up to 30 boxes.
“We found one box in the floodplain and it was full of crafts,” said Stack.
Stack had to break the news to sisters June Merrifield and Irene Fontaine, who have been the backbone of collecting and sorting garage sale items.
“They were upset,” she said.
Stack said she will be getting a bigger lock, but there isn’t much more they can do.
The seniors’ centre is accepting donations for the garage sale until Oct. 30.
Call ahead to find out which items can’t be accepted for donation at 604-530-3020.