Carmichael Outreach announced on social media that the centre was robbed sometime over the weekend. The non-profit’s post on Monday night said the organization’s location at 1510 12th Ave. was broken into and laptops and a safe were allegedly taken. “I came into my office Monday morning and found it in disarm and noticed the safe was missing which is usually stored under my desk,” Aurora Marinari, with Carmichael Outreach, said. The safe contained cheques that had yet to be cashed, as well as cash donations. “Some gift cards from Co-op, so about $400 in those, a couple of gift cards that were prepaid visas, about $300 in those, and then we had some gift certificates from donors that had been brought and put in the safe for fundraising initiatives like a silent auction,” Bettyann Cox, CEO of Carmichael Outreach, said. Cox added the organizations credit card was also stolen and had fraudulent charges on it. “Being a non-profit that works with the most vulnerable sector in the city, it was just really upsetting,” Marinari said. The Regina Police Service (RPS) said the incident is under investigation and it will work to try and recover all the property and return it. “It’s difficult when it comes to things like cash and cheques,” Elizabeth Popowich, with RPS, said. According to Carmichael Outreach, the community has stepped up to help in their time of need. “Our Facebook post has been shared over 600 times, our phones have been ringing non-stop with people wanting to make a donation and asking how they can help,” said Marinari. She said the biggest ask right now is for businesses to donate more items for future fundraisers. Cox said the patrons who use the service shouldn’t see an impact from this situation because of the community’s help. People looking to donate are encouraged to do so online, over the phone or by dropping off cash, cheques or items.
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