The coordinator of Gilmer’s annual Toys for Tots drive recently had a first-time experience he hopes doesn’t repeat itself.
According to Ret. U.S. Marines Sgt. A.J. LeCompte, a box used to collect donations was removed from the wall of a downtown shop, TJ and Company Antiques, and the money was taken.
“I’ve been doing (Toys for Tots) for 11 years, and we’ve never had a problem like this. It’s pretty rare according to the (Toys for Tots) Foundation because people just don’t take money that’s going to (help) kids,” he said.
According to an incident report, Ellijay Police were notified that the broken box had been left in one of the public rest rooms on River Street where it was recovered Friday, April 16. The lock was still in the locked position, but the back of the plastic box had been broken into pieces, the report states.
“That box has been there (about) eight years. Those boxes were made by the foundation. I didn’t expect any of them to ever (be tampered with). I did put chains on them because I felt that would make them more secure, but they actually broke the chain,” LeCompte said.
Gilmer Toys for Tots has four year-round donation boxes at businesses in Ellijay and East Ellijay, but the one that was taken is probably the most dependable box due to the amount of donations it sees, LeCompte noted.
“I think it’s because they have a pretty nice rest room there, and people appreciate that they can use that instead of a public rest room. There’s a sign in there that says if you like how nice this bathroom is, we don’t have anybody we pay to clean it. But if you’d like to donate something, please put something in the Toys for Tots box,” he added.
LeCompte said donations that are collected year-round help the Marine Corps outreach campaign come together here each Christmas season. That always takes plenty of preplanning and legwork throughout any given year.
“With the money we collect year-round, we can buy two to three as many gifts (from toy) wholesalers. They have sales in the middle of the year, and you can get some good deals. The funds we collect are sent to a clearing house hired by the foundation, and they add them to my purchasing card,” LeCompte said.
Diane Blair, a vendor at TJ and Company, said the store’s owner plans to keep having the Toys for Tots donation boxes in the store. The box in the rest room, which is one of two in the store, has been replaced and is now double chained.
“We were pretty busy that day, so how in the world anybody got (the box) out we don’t know. We were devastated,” Blair said.
No one has been apprehended for the box theft. The police report lists theft by taking of less than $500, criminal trespass and recovered lost property charges.
LeCompte noted there’s no way to really know how much money was taken.
“We usually get coins and singles. Rarely do we get (larger bills). Obviously, they wanted the money right away and didn’t want that box in their possession. I want to have a very positive outlook. It kind of just shows that times are probably tougher now than maybe people realize,” he added.