Community raises funds for couple burglarized while having baby

Fundraiser will benefit youth ministry at church where husband is pastor

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Harris family's Westside home was robbed earlier this month while the young couple was at the hospital bringing a new baby into the world.

The community came together Wednesday and held a fundraiser for Aaron and Janine Harris.

The couple's insurance is taking care of the things the family lost in the burglary -- about $10,000 worth of stuff, they said -- but the realty company that sold the home to the Harrises decided it wanted to do something more for them.

Because Aaron Harris is a youth minister in Clay County, the money from Wednesday's fundraiser will benefit his church.

"As a mom and a grandmother it was kind of devastating to think what should have been the greatest moment of their life was marred by such a horrible tragedy," realtor Beth Giordano said.

The goal of the fundraiser is to raise $5,000 for the youth ministry at Emmanual Baptist Church.

"Today we are paying it forward for AJ," realtor David Lane said. "We are going to show people that we are bigger than the effect or the result of what happened.
  
"It's just one of those things. It touches me because I'm a parent of two children, so I think anybody who has a child, it will effect you."
 
Police are still looking for people who broke into the Harris' home while they were at the hospital having their first baby, just 10 days after they moved into the home.

The house was ransacked. A ventilation hose was all that was left of the washer and dryer. And a few empty plugs remained where the refrigerator and stove once stood.

Clothes from baby A.J.'s closet, money, jewelry, two televisions and even a clothing iron from their closet were all taken, they said. It amounted to about $10,000 worth of stuff.

The Harris' home has two security cameras -- one at the front door, one inside -- but unfortunately neither camera records video. They're live-feed only.

The Harris' neighbors said they didn't see or hear anything. Police said they believe the person or persons responsible knew the couple and knew they wouldn't be home.