An organization celebrated for helping others is now in need of help itself.
The Riverview Lions Club in Greater Moncton was broken into, resulting in approximately $7,000 worth of damage and stolen items.
“I was saddened and extremely disappointed that people would do this sort of stuff,” says Scott Campagna, president of the club. “We spend so much time here that this is our home for some of us.”
The break-in has left many volunteers scratching their heads.
“They do it out of their own generosity and to have these people come in and cause that damage for no economic reason, it hurts us all as a community,” says Riverview resident Greg Purcell.
Sixty-eight volunteers work year-round on fundraisers so they can give back to the community, individuals and organizations.
“We help out the IWK, we help out Habitat for Humanity, Alzheimer’s, diabetes – you name it and we help them out,” says Campagna.
The president says the irony of targeting an organization that exists to help isn’t lost on him.
“It’s like taking from the giver, and to me, that’s kind of heartbreaking,” he says. “It’s like if you need food and you go and steal it from the food bank. All you have to do is ask.”
The damages have since been fixed, but Campagna says it will take two to three months of fundraising to get the club back on its feet.
WIth files from CTV Atlantic's David Bell.
