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Warwick Smith / Stuff
St. Vincent de Paul Society President Mike Keenan displays food and gifts donated since the robbery.
Palmerston North has dug deep to help a church replace thousands of dollars in stolen Christmas food donations.
The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on Broadway Ave was raided over the weekend, when thieves looted the food bank run by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
At least $ 1,200 worth of food was taken, intended to feed underprivileged families during the holiday season. More was probably lost, as food bank volunteers do not keep detailed ledgers.
Palmerston North Society President Mike Keenan said the food bank had been inundated with offers of help since Things reported the theft on Monday.
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“It is just fantastic. I am impressed by the wonderful response from our community. “
People have brought food and cash donations to the cathedral, the Salvation Army shared food from their food banks, and The Warehouse in Palmerston North contributed $ 1,500 in gift cards.
Keenan said it was an encouraging response to a heartbreaking crime and that society could now help more families than it could have before the robbery.
The food bank volunteers are figuring out how to distribute the additional donations.
Many of the individual donors gave money to the food bank, which will be used for other charitable efforts or to get ahead of next year’s food drive, he said.
The food bank was tightening its security after the robbery.
Keenan said the window panes removed by burglars to enter had been replaced and burglar screens were installed on the windows so that no one could re-enter that way.
More security measures were to be installed over the next two weeks.
The police are still looking for the thieves.
Society volunteers were working at the food bank until shortly before midnight on Saturday and the theft was discovered during mass at the cathedral on Sunday morning.
Anyone with information about the theft can call the police at 105 and cite file number 201129/3944.
