Local Food Pantry Burglarized Twice In Six Months

A Valley food pantry now asking for help after it’s storage supply was broken into over the weekend.

Three Rivers Bread Basket serves bags of food to families twice a month, and just days before one of it’s distributions, some decided to clean out their supplies.

A lock picked open, and a freezer now empty.

"Mainly protein, bread, a few canned goods were taken," Head of Distribution Lori Isley said.

The Bread Basket became a target for thieves last November, and now again this past weekend.

"There wasn’t really a lot to take monetarily wise, but it’s a hurt to our pride and an invasion of the community outpouring," Isley said.

Volunteer Lori Isley says the thieves made off with more than a hundred dollars worth of food. She says it may not seem like much, but to a nonprofit pantry, it was everything.

"We have single parents. We have a lot of elderly people on a fixed income," Isley said.

She says the pantry only distributes food twice a month, and their next distribution is Wednesday, making the break in that much more damaging.

"We’re probably going to go out of pocket and buy protein to supplement the meals," Isley said.

Dya Price is a volunteer at the Bread Basket, and is also a recipient of the food so he knows first hand how much people rely on the pantry.

"It is very important and it’s part of the lifeblood of a small community, that people help each other out," Price said.

The Tulare County Sheriffs Office is now investigating the crime, but Isley says it’s a crime that didn’t have to happen.

"If you’re really in that much need for food, please just ask," Isley said.

Food donations can be dropped off at the Three Rivers Presbyterian Church or at the Three Rivers Art Center. As for monetary donations, they can be mailed to P.O. Box 449, Three Rivers, CA 93271.