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Greater D.C. Cares has its annual Servathon event planned for this weekend, but the task may be a little harder this year.
This e-mail went out yesterday to the group’s supporters:
Thieves broke into our Community Tool Chest early Monday morning and stole several thousand dollars worth of tools and supplies. Stolen items included brand-new power tools and other items that are vital to the success of Servathon.
We are shocked and saddened by this crime, but committed to moving forward to make Servathon 2009 a success. Despite having bought many of these tools only weeks ago, GDCC is being forced to replace these items in a matter of days. Given the tight budget we are already on for this event and the limited amount of time we have to acquire these tools, we need help from our supporters to fund these last-minute, essential purchases.
Since today is the first day of the event, no one at Greater D.C. Cares could be immediately reached for more details. But you can help by donating here.
UPDATE, 12:25 P.M.: Dr. Madye Henson, president and CEO of Greater D.C. Cares, says her group is still totaling the losses from the Monday burglary. The group’s ‘Community Tool Chest,’ located in a vacant school in Southeast Washington, is not only used by GDCC but is loaned out to other groups that need equipment, and had recently received donations ahead of the Servathon event.
The crime, Henson says, has made this weekend’s event a challenge: “We’re having to really scramble at the last minute to really have everything in place,” she says. “We are really trying to work around it.” Since the e-mail appeal was made to volunteers, several have stepped up with donations.
Police, she says, are still investigating the break-in.