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Politics & Government

Christmas Project Donations Spared in Pantry Thefts

Harrison director of community services says thousands of dollars donated during Christmas season were not affected by possible thefts from the Harrison Food Pantry.

In the light of connected to the Harrison Food Pantry, some questioned if the thousands of dollars donated this December for may have been affected.

Nina Marraccini, Harrison director of community services, recently confirmed that, thankfully, the money and baskets meant to bring holiday joy to needy families ended up in the right hands.

All of the food, gifts and supplies purchased during the holiday fundraiser were  in this reporter's home. Marraccini confirmed that from there all goods were sent directly to those in need. There was $20,000 in cash that was donated and never stored in the pantry.

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“The gift bags were picked up from that private home by Harrison police officers who delivered the bags directly to all the recipients,” Marraccini said.

All 72 families on the food pantry list received supermarket certificates for food, gas cards, clothing, gifts, snacks and toys as part of that project. Volunteers used the cash to buy gifts and gift cards for the families in need.

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“The families were incredibly touched. The fact that unknown neighbors would do this for them meant as much as the food and gifts themselves,” Marraccini said.

Police delivering the Christmas baskets were greeted with hugs and tears. The donations were a surprise to most recipients, whose first indication of the town's holiday spirit was the arrival of the overflowing baskets.

While the Christmas Project baskets were not affected, police say other food and goods were stolen from the Harrison Food Pantry storage center at 140 Crotona Avenue during the same period. A police investigation alleges that one of the thefts took place just five days before Christmas last year.

By that time, however, all of the food and gift baskets sent out as part of the Christmas Project had been wrapped and were about to be sent to those in need.

The six town employees allegedly involved in stealing from the pantry were arrested and charged with petit larceny. They are due in court Tuesday, March 1.

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