The Whitehorse Food Bank in downtown Whitehorse was broken into over the past weekend, and a small amount of cash and other items were stolen from the premises.
According to Dave Blottner, the executive director of the Food Bank Society of the Yukon, the incident occurred sometime between the food bank’s closing on Friday and reopening on Monday morning.
It’s currently unknown how the thief or thieves entered the food bank.
“There’s no sign of forced entry. So, we’re not sure if someone snuck in and then was maybe hiding in here after the staff locked up, which is terrifying. Or if it was like a lockpick situation or some other methods, but the police have not been able to figure out how they got in here yet,” Blottner told the News.
A small amount of cash, some gift cards and boxes of cereal and cookies were taken during the break-in.
“We keep change here on site for folks who need to use the payphone, and for volunteers who go above and beyond, we go out and buy them coffee or snacks occasionally. We had a couple of gift cards on-site (…) we lost a few of those,” Blottner said.
“It wasn’t a devastating loss. It was more the efforts that were taken to search everything and throw your files on the floor and mess up our operations for a little while. We had to clean it all up and put it back together.”
Blottner wants the person or persons involved in the break-in to know that the food bank is a volunteer-led organization that aims to support those in need.
He further noted that the food bank does not keep large sums of cash or valuables on site and that if the thief or thieves need food, they can simply come into the food bank and get it – committing a burglary isn’t necessary.
“If you need help, we’re already here for you, and we’re willing to help. If it’s food that you need, we have food for you. If there’s some other kind of support you need, we’re well-connected to the community, and we’ll help connect you to the support you need. So, this (break-in) feels largely unnecessary,” Blottner said.
Staff at the food bank were shaken up following the revelation that the facility had been broken into over the weekend. However, Blottner told the News that the team there has taken solace in the thought that whoever broke into the food bank genuinely needed the items that they took and that they’ve put them to good use.
“And if they find themselves in need again, we hope that they just come in when we’re open, and we’ll happily give them what they need and help them because that’s what we’re here for,” Blottner said.
The food bank has been cleaned up following the break-in and is currently operating as usual.
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Contact Matthew Bossons at matthew.bossons@yukon-news.com