Written by Jenna Morton, WQAD reporter
Lt. Jeanette Jensen and her family just relocated to Clinton, Iowa a few months ago.
"My husband and I were appointed to the Clinton Salvation Army in the beginning of July, this is actually our first appointment," Jensen said.
Volunteering is in her blood. Both of her parents were Salvation Army officers.
But tragedy struck early this week when someone broke into the shed that housed the church's deep freezers, full of meat and pizzas for their food pantry.
The thieves got away with $800 worth of meat. That's not counting the damages to the property, as the thieves broke both the lock and door jam upon entering. The total cost of the loss is close to $1,000.
"It definitely doesn't feel good especially knowing that people in the community had donated that to us. I mean that was their support of our pantry as well and I think it just hurts on a number of levels," Jensen said.
Jensen says the food pantry was already hurting to begin with.
"We're pretty tight. We don't have the financial resources to just go out and replace what the theft has taken from us. So we're actually having to ration a whole lot more of what we give out," Jensen said.
She is asking for help from the community.
"If they ever want to donate, food or monetary donations, we will always be accepting that, we're always looking for help from the community."
Clinton's Salvation Army feeds about 85 families a month. Donations can be dropped off at 219 1st Ave. in Clinton.