TONAWANDA, N.Y. — On December 27, the Summer Theater Arts Group Experience (STAGE) held a winter concert for their community. No tickets were required to attend the performance, the group only asked people to make monetary donations or donate winter garments.
Piles of donated hats, scarves, and mittens were placed in Mary Jo Leslie's car to be dropped off at the Ken-Ton Family Support Center and WNY Home for the Holidays.
On New Year's Day, Leslie, the director and co-founder of STAGE, said her and her husband's vehicles were stolen from their driveway, along with the bags filled with donations.
"I lost some personal stuff, but this thing really bothered me because everybody donated so many warm things," said Leslie.
Fortunately, the monetary donations are accounted for, but Leslie and the rest of STAGE hope the public can help.
"We collected around $500 this year and all of the missing gloves and hats. So, hopefully, we can have those replenished to give back to the community," said Leslie.
With winter just beginning, Leslie hopes the public would be willing to send over any gently used winter gear to these organizations.
"Let's try to look forward and try to look past this bad thing happened and make something good come out of it by helping some people," she said.
If you or anyone you know would like to donate, you can contact the organizations below:
Ken-Ton Family Support Center
255 Myron Ave, Buffalo, NY 14217
(716) 874-8510
WNY Home for the Holidays
5165 Broadway #176 Depew, NY 14043
(716) 864-1130
