Local

Christmas toys stolen out of charity's storage locker

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — Leaders of a south Fulton charity said they're devastated after thieves broke into a storage locker and stole hundreds of Christmas presents meant for needy children.

When LIFT Community Development Corporation leaders opened their south Fulton storage locker Friday morning, their hearts sank in a hurry.

"I was so mad," said Shurnetha Russell with LIFT Community Development Corp. "I am just… it's awful, because I'm so disgusted at the person who did this. How dare you take away from the community and children?"

The College Park charity collects donations throughout the year to hand out at an annual event in memory of founder Ann Davis' mother.

"Taken, just want to take and to hurt people during the holidays. You know, a Grinch, just Grinch, I calls it," Davis said.

Hundreds of families had already signed up for this year's event with dozens more on the waiting list.

"This is their Christmas. Their families can't provide for them," Russell said.

Organizers figure the crooks got away with more than $10,000 worth of stuff from the locker.

"We don't want to call those families and disappoint those families because they're depending on us," Davis said.

But most troubling, the charity may have been targeted.

"How would you know exactly where to go, what's in there, what to take. It's toys. It's toys," Russell said.

Fulton county police are now searching for whoever broke in and promises to do everything it can to solve the crime.

The group hopes to replenish its supply as soon as possible. The toys were supposed to be given away at an event on Dec. 21.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call Fulton County police at 404-613-6600.

If you would like to help out, there are several ways.

You can make a monetary donation at any Bank of America branch using account number 334037712379.

Donations can also be mailed to LIFT Community Development Corporation, which is located at 5134 Old National Hwy Suite C, College Park,Ga 30349. Their phone number is 404-762-5600, or email them at liftcdc@yahoo.com.