Charity For Kids In Care left reeling by theft of clothes, bakpacks meant for vulnerable children
A Gold Coast charity is reeling after heartless thieves raided its store of clothes and backpacks destined to help children left ‘with absolutely nothing’. Here’s how it happened.
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A GOLD COAST charity has been left devastated after heartless thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of clothes and due to be given to vulnerable children.
The items were stolen on Wednesday night from a trailer used for storage by For Kids In Care. The trailer was being kept at an Oxenford yard belonging to a local business which assists the charity.
Jane Padden said the stolen goods were to be given to children taken into residential care for the first time.
“We get them a brand new backpack, t-shirts, caps, pyjamas, things like that,” Ms Padden said.
“Sometimes these kids come with absolutely nothing, literally just the clothes on their back.”
Ms Padden started the charity in 2014 to provide Christmas presents for children in care, funded with money raised from donors and popular events such as its annual Santa JetSki Ride.
The charity had expanded in the last two years to extend help to children throughout the year.
“It (the theft) is just heartbreaking,” Ms Padden said. “We’d done the Christmas event, but throughout the year we give backpacks to kids who go into residential care.
“That’s all of the stuff they’ve taken.”
Ms Padden said the trailer was unusually full because the charity, after helping 546 children at Christmas, had taken advantage of January sales to stock up for the year ahead.
“We did a massive campaign for Christmas this year and got through that,” Ms Padden said.
“Then because of the sales we got some great backpacks and extra t-shirts, so we had quite a bit of stock, which we don’t normally have at this time of year.
“It was in a secure yard that was padlocked, with Colorbond fencing, and on top of that metal Colorbond is three layers of barbed wire.
“So it was in a really secure area, and yet they still got in there.
“I can’t put a figure on it, we’re going to work it out, but I reckon between five and eight thousand dollars worth has been stolen from us.”
Ms Padden said the charity mostly helped teens taken into care after coming from extremely difficult backgrounds.
“When they’re taken away (into residential care), you know it’s the worst situation,” Ms Padden said.
“Services just don’t whip kids away.
“... So you know when those kids have been taken away that they’ve been in a really bad position. It’s not just (a case of) parents who are not doing a good job, they’re really in a bad way.
“The poor kids are damaged. They’re really psychologically damaged.
“And we want them to have a smooth transition and we want them to be happy.
“... So we want them to go to school with nice stuff, with stuff they want.
“They’ve been dealt a raw deal, these kids. All these kids want is parents to love and care for them and they don’t have that. We’re trying to help them out as best we can.”
Theodore MP Mark Boothman said he was “disgusted” that someone would steal from the charity.
“It’s very disappointing that someone would actually do this, especially for a charity that is helping young people in need, those that are certainly less fortunate in our society,” Mr Boothman said.
Police told the Bulletin they were investigating the theft and appealed to anyone with information to come forward.
“Initial investigations indicate sometime between February 15 and February 16 a quantity of items were stolen from a trailer at an Old Pacific Highway address,” a spokesperson said.
“Investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
“Anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage in the area that could assist investigations is asked to contact police.”
* To help For Kids In Care, visit www.forkidsincare.org.au
Originally published as Charity For Kids In Care left reeling by theft of clothes, bakpacks meant for vulnerable children
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