Norah Louise Abraham, a Caboolture resident, had been collecting donations to create Christmas hampers for the homeless and disadvantaged in the local community when a significant quantity of donations intended for the charity drive was stolen. Now she’s determined to make up for the loss, with the help of kindhearted donors and friends.
The late November theft occurred in a secured storeroom of the Burpengary Community Association headquarters, resulting not only in a considerable loss of goods but has also cast a shadow over the community’s charitable spirit.
In the wake of the theft, Ms Abraham refused to be deterred. She posted on the Caboolture Community Notice Board, expressing her determination to continue her charitable efforts.
“To say I am shattered would be an absolute understatement,” she wrote in the Caboolture community page.
“As some of you will know, I have been frantically collecting donations for Christmas hampers for our homeless and disadvantaged since August.
“This year I was offered the use of locked storeroom at the burpengary community association by the wonderful Ed, as I did not have enough room at home.
“Me and hubby have just gotten home from picking everything up, and it absolutely sickens me that some greedy, putrid thief has somehow gained access and rifled through absolutely everything, taking hundreds of dollars worth of stuff. Full tubs, boxes and bags have come home half full.
“To put it in perspective, 4 carloads went down, 2 came back.
Despite the setback, she managed to start assembling another set of hampers, delivering a batch to Caboolture Community Action.
“I need to get my head around this, but at this stage given what has been stolen my hampers will not be the beautiful support hampers that we had planned on and that everyone who donated had strived for, I am thinking I will take what I have left to Caboolture community action so they can put with their hampers donations.”
With the police investigation pending further action from Ed Nixon of the Burpengary Community Association, Ms Abraham’s resolve remains strong. The community has rallied around her, with donations and support pouring in to help replenish the stolen items.
In a subsequent update, Ms Abraham mentioned the need for more hamper bags, as funds initially allocated for them were used to replace the stolen groceries.
Despite the challenges, the community’s response has been proof of their resilience and compassion.
Ms Abraham’s leadership and the community’s support exemplify the strong community spirit in Caboolture, showcasing their commitment to helping those in need, even in the face of adversity.
