Bucks County Catholic School Theft Turns Into Blessing In Disguise
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Turning lemons into lemonade.
Holy Trinity Catholic School has something to celebrate. But it started with the theft of a collection box for needy children.
"Very upsetting, it really is because the kids here they donate their spare change," said Karen McMenamin, President of the Home and School Association.
The students, grades K-8th, were collecting the money during their book fair to buy books for under privileged children in other countries.
"This is for children who are in under developed nations," says Elaine McDowell the school's principle. "They might put the change from the book fair in and add some of their own from their piggy bank."
Every time a donation is made a name goes on this wall. But at some time during the open house, the money disappeared. The principal called the police and word of the theft quickly started to spread.
"People started calling. Parents were calling saying we want to bring money in," McDowell said. "It just took off. Strangers stopped and said, 'I'm not catholic, I'm not in your Parrish, but we just want to help' and gave us a check."
"I feel like it's a chain reaction, one kid sees another kid and they say, 'oh wow one kid did that I'm going to do that' and it's just spreads," said McMenamin.
After two weeks of random donations and an out pouring of support, the stolen $50 has turned into more than $800. The school has doubled their donation to needy children and will buy books for their own classrooms.
"To be a recipient of that it's quite humbling…. I've always taught the children that there's more goodness in the world than bad. Hopefully they will model that one day," said McDowell.
It's not yet clear who took the money, but the school spotted someone in their surveillance cameras, at the time of the theft, inside the school, that no one seems to recognize. Police are now investigating.
