The not-for-profit thrift store in Sydney Mines that was the subject of an apparent after-hours theft was overwhelmed with support Friday from the community.

And, there was an apology from one of the people caught on camerataking things.

Darrell Crawley, a customer, arrived at Nora’s Thrift Store in Sydney Mines on Friday with not one, not two, but four boxes of items – all donations to the not-for-profit charity.

“I think there were a lot of unfortunate people around who don’t have work, or who have three or four kids, can’t afford clothing,” says Crawley. “When I was growing up, I didn’t have much. Places like this were a good thing.”

Store manager Ellen Keagan says they’ve been overwhelmed with donations after the story aired on CTV Thursday night, which showed several people removing items from donation bins and driving off.

“There were a lot of different customers,” says Keagan. “Then this morning when I came to work, there were a lot more donations outside and inside the bin.”

Besides the response from the community, they received a call Friday morning from a man who was seen taking a baby’s highchair that was put next to the donation box in front of the store.

“The man said that they removed the highchair for a family that was in need,” says Keagan. “He then apologized and said he would send us a cheque to reimburse us for that item.”

“I think it’s terrible, I can’t imagine anyone doing that,” says Crawley. “If they had of went in and asked them, they would have gave them the stuff.”

Aside from the people dropping off donations at the store, workers on Friday say they’ve also received support online with more than 8,000 views to their Facebook page.

“In the future, we would appreciate that if some absolutely needed something, that they come into the store,” says Keagan. “This is private property.”

It’s the second time this month that a not-for-profit group has been in the news. Last week, the Glace Bay Food Bank lost a big section of its vegetable garden to vandals.

However, in both cases, the communities have stepped up when the charities needed them most.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kyle Moore