There are grinches. And then there are nasty grinches.
For the second time in six months, Lighthouse Mission’s trucks were vandalized.
“They cut out the catalytic converters on two of our box trucks, used to pick up food,” said pastor Jim Ryan of their food pantry supplies. “They’ve also cut the transmission lines on our youth vans. You get halfway down the block and the transmission is blown.”
The box trucks got repaired so the regular food runs can continue, but the bill needs to be paid, about $4,200.
“We’ve been around since 1992 and this never happened before,” Ryan said. “The good news is we improved our security system and have customized cages over the catalytic converters.”
The North Bellport nonprofit that feeds thousands each week owns four box trucks, as well as cargo and passenger vans.
“Some of the vehicles we can put behind the fence here, some are parked at staff homes,” Ryan added. “But without those box trucks, we can’t pick up food, so we had no choice but to get them repaired immediately.
“I would say this is the first year we’re receiving significant damage. This past Christmas, they stole a catalytic converter and began cutting the transmission lines. The timing is terrible because this is our busy season.”
According to Ryan, those who would like to donate can visit www.Lighthousegive.com. “They can enter their money donation that way,” he said.
