Woodland police are investigating a burglary in which hundreds of dollars’ worth of food and other items were stolen from the Woodland Food Closet.
According to Sgt. Dallas Hyde, the break-in occurred between 8:30 p.m. Monday and 2:50 p.m. Tuesday at the food closet, which operates from the basement of Woodland Christian Church at 509 College St.
“The thieves took food, baby products and other items the church uses to help those in need,” said Hyde, who estimated the value of the stolen property to be about $500. No suspects had been identified or arrested as of Thursday.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Woodland Police Department at 530-666-2411.
Tania Garcia-Cadena, the food closet’s executive director, said the burglar or burglars cleaned out the supply of snacks, shelf-stable milk and some cheese, then added insult to injury by dumping out boxes that had been filled during a food drive several days earlier and scattering food across the floors.
“Fortunately they didn’t take too much, and we have been able to restock our shelves with a generous credit from our partners at the Yolo Food Bank,” Garcia-Cadena said. “We’ll continue to serve our neighbors in need and hopefully those who did this will get caught.”
Established in 1968, the Woodland Food Closet provides three days’ worth of food to those experiencing an emergency or crisis situation, and according to its website is the only agency in Woodland that performs food distribution on a daily basis, Monday through Friday. A referral from a social service agency, school or church is required.
“Our clients are individuals, families, seniors, children and infants. Although intended to be a one-time, emergency service, Woodland Food Closet provides food to anyone who is hungry,” the website says. Clients in need of longer-term food resources are referred to the Yolo County Department of Employment and Social Services.
The Woodland Food Closet accepts donations of canned/nonperishable foods and toiletries. Garcia-Cadena said anyone wishing to contribute financially to the organization can send donations to P.O. Box 803, Woodland, CA 95776, or donate via PayPal at Woodland Volunteer Bureau Food Closet.
— Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenterprise.net or 530-747-8048. Follow her on Twitter at @laurenkeene