After Break-In, Donors Help Organization Replace Charity Gift Baskets
(CBS) -- It was a disheartening experience for a South Side social services center. Burglars damaged and stole dozens of silent auction baskets meant for their biggest fundraiser of the year.
But there is a silver lining, CBS 2's Sandra Torres reports.
Burglars broke in through a window at the Beacon Therapeutic Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Beverly on Friday night. They damaged baskets that had been filled with items for a silent auction.
"By the time the alarm triggered, they were into the downstairs space and had damaged the room and the baskets," development director Peggy Rourke says.
The center shared the sad news on Facebook, and that's when the unexpected happened.
"Since then, it's just kind of exploded we've gotten donations from out-of-state, people going on our website and making donations," Susan Reyna-Guerrero, Beacon Center President & CEO, says.
The generous donations restored their faith in humanity.
"We are able to replace the baskets, and more importantly replace our spirit," Rourke says.
The fundraising event is next week.