By Chelsea Phua
cphua@sacbee.com
Someone broke into the St. Francis Foster Homes in Sacramento over the weekend and stole donated toys that were being prepared to be given to foster children for the holidays, agency officials said.
Executive director Jim Foley said less than 10 toys and a camera used to photograph the children were taken. Foley also said some hot chocolate, oatmeal and soy milk were missing, but he said it's not clear if the person or people who took the toys were also responsible for taking the food.
Officials reported to police that sometime between 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday, the burglar or burglars broke into the organization's headquarters on Alhambra Boulevard and removed the glass from the facility's external door.
"This act is completely despicable and shameful," said Jon Myers, a St. Francis board member, in a statement. "How anyone could do such a thing just before the holidays and rob children of these gifts is unthinkable."
Foley said unlike years past, the agency won't be able to give cash to the foster parents to buy extra gifts for the children this year because of county budget cuts. The county pays St. Francis per diem for each day it places a child with the agency.
Foley said the agency receives a majority of the toys the day after Thanksgiving from an auto club in Folsom. The toys are then sorted to match them to a child. Every year the agency organizes a party a few days before Christmas and presents the gifts to the children during the party.
Call The Bee's Chelsea Phua, (916) 321-1132.
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