The Whitehorse Food Bank in downtown Whitehorse was broken into over the weekend, with a small amount of cash and other items stolen from the premises.
Dave Blotner, executive director of the Yukon Food Bank Association, said the incident occurred between the time the food bank closed on Friday and when it reopened Monday morning.
At this time, it is unclear how the thieves got into the food bank.
“There is no evidence of forced entry. So we don't know if someone snuck in and hid here after our staff locked it, which is scary. Or if it was through lockpicking or some other method. “Police still haven't figured out how they got here,” Blotner told the News.
A small amount of cash, several gift cards, and boxes of cereal and cookies were stolen during the break-in.
“We leave coins on-site for people who need to use payphones, and sometimes we go out and buy coffee or snacks for volunteers who go above and beyond. There were several gift cards at the scene (…) and we lost some of them,'' Blotner said.
“It wasn't a catastrophic loss. It was more of an effort spent searching everything, throwing files on the floor, and disrupting operations for a while. Cleaning everything up and putting it back together. I had to bring it back.”
Blotner wants those involved in the break-in to know that the food bank is a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to helping people in need.
He further added that food banks do not keep large amounts of cash or valuables on-site, and if a thief needs food, they can simply come to the food bank, get it, and commit a robbery. He said there was no need.
“If you need support, we're already here and we'd be happy to help. If you need food, we'll get it for you. If you need any other support. , we have connections with the community and can help connect you with the support you need. So we feel this (intrusion) is largely unnecessary,” Blotner said.
Staff at a food bank were left shaken after it emerged there had been a break-in at the facility over the weekend. But Blotner told the News the team on the ground was comforted by the belief that the people who broke into the food bank really needed the items they took and they put them to good use.
“And if they find themselves in need again, we hope they can come by when we're open and we'll be happy to give them what they need and help them. Because that’s why we’re here,” Blotner said.
The food bank has been cleaned up after the break-in and is now open for business as usual.
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Contact Matthew Bossons at matthew.bossons@yukon-news.com