The Christmas season is a time for giving. Unfortunately for some, it is also a time for taking.
The marginal human beings who boosted the contents from locked storage containers in the parking lot of the Greater Bridgeport Christian Fellowship Church would fit into the latter category. What the thieves made off makes the crime even more reprehensible: It was $80,000 worth of toys earmarked for needy children.
The Connecticut Post quotes Jerry Martinez, co-director of Toys for Tots in Bridgeport as saying, “It was mostly toys for kids age 7 to 14. Remote control cars, skateboards, Barbies, LOL dolls, board games. That stuff took the biggest hit.”
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He said the toys were to be donated to families and organizations in Bridgeport and multiple surrounding towns — including Trumbull, Stratford, and Monroe — on Dec. 15.
Now that the inventory has been gutted, the organization is struggling to get enough toys to donate to the 1,500 families it serves. Martinez said Toys for Tots is still trying to hit its Dec. 15 distribution goal, but it may need to make some adjustments if there aren’t enough toys in time.
Fortunately, the community is evidently home to more good Samaritans than to vile creatures:
On Monday, Martinez said Toys for Tots had already gotten multiple offers of help.
“We’ve got lots of individuals who have reached out to get us donations,” he said.
At least one local business has also extended a helping hand — Wonderland of Ice in Bridgeport. Wonderland owner and general manager Lisa Fedick said she was heartbroken by the news reports of the Toys for Tots break-on.
Readers eager to help the Toys for Tots chapter reach its goal can reach the organization here or by phone: 203-726-3614 or 203-726-3610.
