Thieves Can't Ruin Palatka's Thanksgiving

When you hear someone stole dozens of turkeys and fixings from a soup kitchen preparing to serve a Thanksgiving meal to the needy, you might ask what this world is coming to. Then you learn that when people heard about the theft, they donated replacements for everything taken and even more and your faith in humanity is at least partly restored.

Sunday night's burglary at the Bread of Life Soup kitchen in Palatka left volunteers scrambling to figure out who to serve a holiday meal for those who otherwise would have to do without.

Someone broke in the Bread of Life Soup kitchen in Palatka and stole food, turkeys and money out of a donation jar.

According to manager Blanche Janis, before they left, "They sat here and ate and left a mess behind."

Assistant Chief James Griffith of the Palatka Police Department said he wasn't that surprised when he got a call about the burglary.

"Unfortunately, crime goes on through the holiday season," Griffith said.

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Police are still looking for whoever broke into the soup kitchen, hoping they can prosecute someone for stealing from a charity.

Janis told Channel 4's Dan Leveton that while the theft was disappointing, she's not discouraged.

"The expression is, 'You don't bite the hand that feeds you,'" Janis said. "We feed people here 365 days a year. We never close down."

When people in the area heard about the theft, enough supplies were donated to feed 400 Thanksgiving meals. On Wednesday, 20 turkeys were already in the smoker and volunteers, including a Cub Scout troop, were helping prepare to serve the holiday meal.

"This place has been here 20 years. If it wasn't for the people that help us, we couldn't do what we do," Janis said. "I thank them for that. They're here for us all the time, no matter what."