Edinburgh community centre raises more than double fundraising target after heartless thief steals food for vulnerable

A community centre in the Capital has raised more than £3,000 after a brazen thief broke in and stole goods and food parcels that were made to feed the city’s vulnerable.

The Magdalene Community Centre in Magdalene Drive has set up a gofundme page after an intruder stole essential items during a break-in last night (Sunday).

The centre’s fundraising target was originally £1,550 to cover the damage caused, but donations given since yesterday have now reached more than double – about £3,115.

Items stolen in the incident included toiletries, children’s toys and food which were used to make up family packs to donate to those who most need them in the city.

All the centre’s staff PPE was also taken in the heartless act.

A spokeswoman for the centre has since thanked those who have donated so far.

In a message on Twitter she said: “Thank you all so much for your support it really does mean a lot.

“As you’ll know we identified £1,550 worth of damage yesterday, and we’ve had so many pledges of support and offers of assistance and donations.

“We will use the money to replenish as much of the missing and damaged equipment and goods as we can.

“The management committee and volunteers have been working on it to clear up and put in place a new system of operations so we will be able to continue with all of our food delivery commitments. If anyone wishes to donate any non-perishable foods/items these can be dropped off in the shed in the garden.

“The shed will only be used for this purpose.

“Can we ask people please close it behind them. Again, thank you all so much for your help during this time.”

Staff at a Tesco branch in Bruntsfield has since donated essential items to help the centre’s cause after hearing about the incident.

Management and volunteers at the Magdalene said they wanted to say a “massive thank you” to all the staff at the supermarket who helped.

The community centre’s spokeswoman added: “After hearing about the theft of our supplies, staff at Tesco in Bruntsfield have kindly donated much needed items, we would like to thank them.

“We would also like to say a massive thank you to the staff who donated money out of their own pockets.

“And we would like to say an extra big thank you to staff members Anne and Ian, who went above and beyond to help with this effort.”

The centre normally offers activities for children, teenagers and adults when the country isn’t in lockdown.

Yet during the Covid-19 pandemic, volunteers at the centre have still been helping the local community by providing food packages for those in need.

To help the centre’s cause you can visit it’s gofundme page at: https://justgiving.com/campaign/Helpmagdalenecc