For the past 15 years Bracebridge OPP Constable Don Hammond, along with residents, area churches and services groups, has been organizing the West Muskoka OPP Food Drive. However, their efforts were quashed on Sunday, after it was discovered that a large amount of donated groceries had been stolen.

Bracebridge OPP report that sometime between Dec. 7 and 9, suspect(s) broke into the First Muskoka Congregational Church on Muskoka Road 169 near Glen Orchard, and made off with 30 bags of groceries labelled “Our Compliments.” Police say the labels are distinctive as they are white in colour.

Jack Hutton, one of the food drive organizers, was shocked when he attended church on Sunday and made the discovery.

Hutton explained that when members of the church arrived for their morning service they found that a side door, used for handicapped access during the summer, was wide open.

That happened either Friday or Saturday night because church elders met on Friday morning and found nothing out of place then.

“Missing from the foyer of the church were more than 30 bags of food that had been brought to the church mid-week from the IGA store in Port Carling by church members Terry and Marilyn Chute,” said Hutton. “Each bag had a sheet listing food items that had been selected by IGA staff members for family use. Store customers had paid $5 or $10 per bag to have them sent to the Congregational Church for distribution.”

Donna Hillyard, co-chair of the church’s board of elders, said vandals overlooked a room downstairs where more food bags were being stored. She added the loss would have been far worse had the theft occurred a week later.

Students from nearby Glen Orchard Public School will be donating a school-wide collection this Friday at a special assembly. The school is the single biggest supporter of the annual West Muskoka food drive.

Const. Hammond said late Sunday that he found the break-in illogical.

“All these individuals had to do was tell us they wanted food,” he said. “We are looking for individuals and families who need the help of the annual food drive, so they didn’t have to break into a church.”

Church leaders stress that the West Muskoka Ministerial Association has access to food bank assistance year-round through Const. Hammond. Families in need of assistance can call their local church for help in any month of the year.

While the loss is devastating, Hutton said a number of people in the community have already come to him to help make up for the stolen food.

“Those 30 bags will be replaced quickly,” said Hutton.

Donations can still be made to the food drive with drop-off locations at the grocery stores in Port Carling and Bala.

With files from Jack Hutton