Normally, we don’t like to say “we told you so,” but in this case, we’ll admit it feels good to be right.
After being robbed twice within a 72-hour period last week, the operators of Sources Langley Food Bank have far more to smile about today.
On Wednesday, we reported that the food bank that operates out of the former United church on 200 Street, was robbed of $1,000 in gift cards, and that the large cube van, on which it depended to pick up donations and groceries, was taken soon after.
Then, to add insult to injury, the truck thieves racked up $1,300 in charges on the charity’s gas card.
As frustrating as it is to know there are people out there who obviously have no qualms about stealing from an agency that exists for the sole purpose of helping others, we were fairly certain that wouldn’t be the end of the story.
Turns out, it was just the beginning.
The community — businesses and regular citizens alike — mobilized, and by Wednesday afternoon, the food bank had received more than $15,000 in donations as well as a new cube van.
In addition, they were gifted with the use of three more vans and replacement gift cards to help them purchase perishable food items for distribution.
None of this excuses the thefts that led to this outpouring of generosity.
As moved as we are by the response, we’re hardly surprised, because time and again, Langley has proved itself to be a very generous community. That’s never more true than during the Christmas season.
So, even as we reported on the loss, we were confident we’d be following up with a much happier story.
If we were surprised by any aspect of this tale, it’s how quickly we get to do just that.