Thieves set their sights this week on the Newton County Christmas for Kids charity, a toy collection to help needy kids in southwest Missouri. Committee member Grady Weston tells Missourinet Joplin affiliate News Talk KZRG that Neosho Police are investigating the crime.
Southwest Missouri community shows holiday spirit after toy thieves try to ruin Christmas
“Between Monday night (12/18) and Tuesday night (12/19), we had re-stocked our warehouse with some older kids’ toys that we had purchased. When we got there Tuesday night, 90% of what we’d bought was gone,” says Weston.
The loss was about $300. Weston says the theft hurt, but what has followed shows true holiday magic. The community has stepped in by donating more than $2,000 to the toy drive.
“This community is unbelievable,” he says.
Donations continue to be collected for the Newton County Christmas For Kids at the Neosho Fire Department, Newton County Ambulance and Redings Mill Fire Department.
In October, thieves stole hundreds of dollars of toys for a Toys for Tots drive. The community also came together to replace the items stolen from the organization’s storage locker in mid-Missouri’s Fulton.
Joe Lancello of Missourinet affiliate KZRG radio in Joplin contributed to this story.