MARATHON — A broken window was the first sign that the Marathon Community Co-Op, Food Bank and Thrift Store had been the scene of a break and enter.
A staff member found the broken window on their way to work Monday morning, and then realized that someone had been rummaging through the store.
Marathon Community Collective chair David Giuliano said $3,300 worth of Joe Fresh Grocery Cards were stolen from a locked backroom, which amounted to about two weeks’ worth of groceries.
Giuliano said he assumed cash was the intent for the break-in, considering that no other items were stolen.
"We commit to providing food grocery cards for our clients so that they can exercise their own needs for food," Giuliano said. "That way they can purchase fresh dairy, produce, eggs, meat, and that kind of thing. And, we’re finding more and more allergies. We do give out food that is donated, but our main focus is on those cards. That’s why there are so many of them.
Due to the increases in inflation and groceries prices, Giuliano said the Marathon Food Bank has seen an uptake of patrons using the facility.
“On average, I think it’s about 90 households a month. When I say households, it could be an individual person on their own or it could be a family of six,” Giuliano said.
About 25 per cent of those patrons are from outside of Marathon, including members of Biigtigong Nishnaabeg.
Fortunately, Giuliano said there was a happy outcome to this incident.
Two individuals stepped up and anonymously donated the value of the cards to the food bank yesterday.
"People were really upset and feeling really sad and winded by the theft, and it was a good reminder that there are a lot of really good people out there trying to do the right thing,” he said.
The OPP continues to investigate the theft of the grocery cards. Giuliano said that the cards are all numbered by the food bank, but points out that he’ll leave the investigation with the police.
“Our job is to serve people in need with respect, kindness, and confidentially, and we’ll keep doing that,” said Giuliano.
