A heartless crime during the holidays
The Arlington Community Food Bank was the victim of a burglary on Friday, December 15, 2023, just a week before Christmas. The thief broke into the food bank’s refrigerator and freezer, and stole hams, yogurt, eggs, and other items that were meant for the needy families in the area. The burglar also damaged the freezer door, causing a significant loss of cold air and food quality.
The food bank’s director, Jerrie Inman, said she was shocked and saddened by the incident, which happened around 7:45 a.m., shortly after a delivery of food had arrived. She said the food bank serves about 800 families every month, and the theft was a huge setback for their holiday distribution.
“It’s heartbreaking. It’s hard to understand why somebody would do that,” Inman said. “We’re here to help people, not to hurt them.”
A generous response from the community
However, the food bank’s misfortune soon turned into a blessing, as the community rallied to support them with donations of money, food, and volunteer hours. Inman said she was overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity and kindness from the people of Arlington and beyond.
“We’ve had so many people come in and drop off food, or call and ask what we need, or offer to help in any way they can,” Inman said. “It’s been amazing. We’re so grateful for everyone’s help.”
Among the donors were several other food banks in Snohomish County, who shared their surplus food with the Arlington food bank. Inman said she was touched by the solidarity and compassion of her fellow food bank directors and staff.
“They’ve been wonderful. They’ve been calling and checking on us, and offering to send us food or anything else we need,” Inman said. “They know how hard it is to run a food bank, especially during the holidays. They’ve been like family to us.”
A hopeful outlook for the future
Despite the burglary, the Arlington food bank was able to resume its normal operations on Monday, December 18, 2023, and prepare for its holiday distribution on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. Inman said she was confident that the food bank would be able to meet the needs of its clients, thanks to the generous donations and the hard work of the volunteers.
“We’re going to make it. We’re going to have enough food for everyone,” Inman said. “We’re not going to let this stop us from doing what we do best, which is helping our community.”
Inman also said she hoped that the burglar would be caught and brought to justice, and that he or she would realize the harm they had caused to the food bank and the people it serves.
“I hope they understand that what they did was wrong, and that they need to make amends for it,” Inman said. “I also hope they know that if they ever need help, they can come to us. We’re here to help anyone who needs it, no matter what.”
