The office and storage area in Newton is typically filled with donated sports equipment. There are soccer balls, baseball gloves, bicycles, runners, hockey sticks, ice and inline skates, and more.
And it’s all destined to be distributed to kids and teens who might not otherwise be able to afford such things.
Sometime on the weekend, however, REC for Kids Society’s premises was broken into. The doors were smashed in, windows broken, and several bikes and numerous pairs of larger sized (11 and 12) running shoes were taken.
A member of the volunteer-run society showed up Monday and discovered the theft and damage, which was also done to the group’s cube van parked outside.
Volunteer Ian Lagasse was aghast that someone would steal from a charity that helps kids.
“I thought these guys were absolute low-lifes because these things would have gone to children,” he said.
The society serves young people between the ages of three and 18. Recipients of the sports equipment are referred to REC by social services agencies, the school district or the RCMP. The sports equipment is donated to the group, which refurbishes and distributes it.
Anyone with information about the break-in or the stolen items is asked to call Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.
For more information about REC or to make a donation, phone 604-598-0322.