Salvation Army makes urgent plea for help

Friday, Dec. 18, 1998 | 11:51 a.m.

The director of the Henderson Salvation Army said today that the response by the community to this week's break-in and looting of Christmas gifts from the organization has been tremendous.

"The support has been incredible and so touching -- the people just couldn't believe that someone would stoop so low as to steal from the Salvation Army," Lt. Mark Gilden said.

So far, about 100 of the 350 stolen or destroyed gifts that were awaiting delivery to area seniors have been replaced and about $3,000 in cash has been donated to help the agency do even more than it had planned, Gilden said.

The Henderson Salvation Army put out an emergency plea for help after vandals broke into a storage shed at the facility sometime between 8 p.m. Tuesday and 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Henderson Police said today they have no new leads on the break-in and theft.

Gilden said that one of the more significant donations has been a storage unit by Mobile Mini, Inc., which is said to be fire and vandal resistant. The unit is a temporary donation for the remainder of the Christmas season.

"We are already preparing for next year to try to prevent this from happening again," Gilden said.

Cash gifts received by the organization included a $500 check from the Green Valley Rotary Club and two anonymous $1,000 donations.

Among the stuff that was taken in the break-in were blankets and wraps. Items that also need to be replaced include perfume, toiletries, clothing, pajamas, robes, sweatshirts and other gifts that would be appropriate for seniors.

The gifts were items that had been purchased by Henderson residents for seniors who were registered in the Angel Tree program at the Galleria Mall.

"These are home-bound seniors who can't get out," said Valery Hardwick, employee at the Henderson location. "We were supplying Christmas for them this year."

The vandals apparently scaled a chain-link fence to enter the rear area where a storage shed held the gifts. Salvation Army officials said packages were torn open, items were pulled off the shelves, thrown to the ground and stomped on.

Donations may be made by calling 565-9578 or dropping items off at the office, 830 E. Lake Mead Dr.

Sun reporter Ed Koch contributed to this report.