FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ/KFSN) — Video obtained by Action News shows a thief ripping off a security camera in the midst of brazen robbery at a West Central Fresno home.
Inside the home, hundreds of toys were about to be passed out to children, just in time for Christmas.
“The kids… the families who are disenfranchised and who are hurting, they’re impacted by this,” said Harvest of Harmony International Church pastor Kelvin Morgan.
Morgan explains that he woke up to this ring camera footage of two men loading four to $5000 worth of toys into a truck on Saturday morning.
“I was heartbroken. We have a lot of families that depend on us. They registered for these toys,” said Kelvin.
The church recently purchased this home, and Morgan says it’s rarely left unattended.
Church leaders planned to pass out toys to the 400 kids who registered for a gift on Sunday.
“We see the need here in the community. We see the families struggling during this time of recession if you will. High increase food and shortages. This is why we give,” said Kelvin.
Church leaders tried to pull their own money together to buy presents late Saturday night. But it simply wasn’t enough. That’s when the community responded.
“We went to bed at 11 o’clock, and we go, OK God, it’s in your hands. You gotta do this,” Pastor Ginger Morgan said. “So I woke up at 6 o’clock this morning and I’m like I gotta go, we’re gonna figure out something. Then someone called ‘We have another donation pastor. We got another donation pastor, they’re coming, they’ll be at Central High School, we got another donation,’ so I’m like oh wow.”
A Christmas miracle, Sunday’s event went without a hitch as families from all backgrounds gathered at Central East High School.
The auditorium was filled with mothers, fathers, grandparents and over 400 children.
Wide-eyed kids rushed into a room full of toys, able to choose everything from board games to legos to dolls.
The church also gave away meals to families in need, a relief during these difficult times.
“I do have a baby on the way and I have a little one right here just moving into my apartment,” mother Shaniqua Valentine said. “It was like bills or presents bills or presents, but I made away got made away for me.”
The thieves may have taken their toys but not their hope.
“This is their Christmas and to give Hope, what a joy… what a joy,” Ginger said.
