[quote=KARE]BIG LAKE, Minn. - On Wednesday night, Saron Lutheran Church was supposed to open its doors for an important rummage sale fundraiser, that's held every other year. The large sale raises money for the church youth group.
But vandals got in first, damaging tens of thousands of items intended to raise tens of thousands of dollars.
"Seems to be kind of malicious," said Pastor Kyle Sidlo. "They call the youth ministry "The Refuge" because a lot of young people don't have a place where they feel safe, and they come here, and now somebody has come in here and tampered with that."
Youth Director Curtis Rieck finished preparing for the sale around 1:30am early Wednesday morning, and locked the church doors.
A staff member found the church trashed by morning.
Vandals sprayed three fire extinguishers all over thousands of items set to be sold, and even inside the sanctuary and all over the church organ.
The powder from the extinguishers got into the air duct system and left a layer of dust all over the church.
Church leaders aren't sure how the vandals got inside, but say the break-in brings the most heartbreak for the youngest of church members. The sale raises money for the church's youth group, which doesn't have a budget. The last sale brought in more than $20,000 for children's programming.
"Why would somebody do this?" said ninth grader Tara Eckhart, who spent more than 100 hours during the past few weeks preparing the sale. "We have to have this sale, or otherwise I don't know how we are going to make it for the next two years."
Clean up crews from the company "24 Restore" came in to clean up the hazardous powder, which can corrode surfaces over time. The clean up could take two weeks, since every single item must be cleaned. Electronics, more than 30 televisions, and many computers, must be taken apart to get rid of the powder.
"It's all the people from the church, I know every person who gave it. It's sad." said Rieck, looking at all the donated items.
Pastor Sidlo says Big Lake Police officers came to investigate and take fingerprints. The church also found a stolen bike and laptop in some bushes. Still, Sidlo says the church finds forgiveness.
"This world is messed up, this is why we have this message," he said.
"It's what we talk about - grace," said Rieck.
Sidlo initially thought the church could postpone the rummage sale for two weeks, but church leaders who met late Wednesday now may cancel the sale because the cleanup is too expensive.
KARE 11 has created a [url=http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Vandalism-Recovery?referral_code=share]donation page[/url] for you to help the youth group at Saron Lutheran Church.[/quote]
[img]http://www.kare11.com/images/640/360/2/assetpool/images/120801112731_church.jpg[/img]
Why would someone do this?
who the fuck spray paints "vandalized"?
seems pretty dumb to me
[QUOTE=bunnyspy1;37045623]who the fuck spray paints "vandalized"?
seems pretty dumb to me[/QUOTE]
well how else will we know it's been vandalised
[QUOTE=bunnyspy1;37045623]who the fuck spray paints "vandalized"?
seems pretty dumb to me[/QUOTE]
It's like robbers saying "Robbed!"
[QUOTE=Zambies!;37045242]
Why would someone do this?[/QUOTE]
probably because they're pathetic losers
[QUOTE]The last sale brought in more than $20,000 for child programming.[/QUOTE]
*fixed
[QUOTE=FreakyMe;37046622]*fixed[/QUOTE]
Haha you're so ~EdGy~!!
Vandals? I knew that asshole Genseric was planning something!
[QUOTE=FreakyMe;37046622]*fixed[/QUOTE]
Shut up, this is sad. This is a place for people who need to find somewhere safe and it gets fucked by people who just ruined that for them.
[QUOTE=FreakyMe;37046622]*fixed[/QUOTE]
Sometimes people use religion when times get rough, they seek help and need something to follow.
Religion isn't that evil as people stereotypes it.
[QUOTE=fruxodaily;37048159]Sometimes people use religion when times get rough, they seek help and need something to follow.
Religion isn't that evil as people stereotypes it.[/QUOTE]
It was more of a joke than anything. I apologize if it wasn't funny. I was more teasing at the wording used in the article rather than anything about religion itself.
I can't help but find "vandalized" pretty funny, though.
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