The Williams Lake and District Credit Union has launched a GoFundMe campaign after donations it had been collecting for Operation Smile were allegedly stolen.
Manager of operational excellence and credit Nolan Hill, says the Branch was broken into last Saturday evening.
“The thieves had one thing in mind so they ran into the Branch, they stole these donations, and they ran out,” he says.
“When I talked to the organizer from Operation Smile she thought there might be about $600 in donations there and that would be enough to fund three surgeries.”
“So it set them back pretty significantly and we’d like to help them recoup those funds.”
The Williams Lake RCMP said the large water jug containing the funds was allegedly taken by one of two male subjects who broke into the Credit Union by smashing the main glass door.
“It’s frustrating, but of course it makes me wonder what is going on in that person’s life that they would need to go to this extent to get a few hundred dollars,” says Hill.
“We’ll find a way to continue supporting them [Operation Smile] in a way that is probably a bit more secure.”
The GoFundMe campaign hopes to raise $750, and Hill says that the Branch will match up to that out of their Branch donation budget.