By STEFAN BRADLEY

 

A MUCH-loved children’s charity is not letting a ram-raid into its new shop front curtail its mission to improve the life of foster children, with repair work underway and assistance from a Latrobe Valley business.

Earlier this month, A Better Life For Foster Kids (ABLFFK) volunteers and 11 Loy Yang B staff over a number of hours helped the charity’s founder, Heather Baird clear out and clean up their new shopfront in Sale, after a car allegedly reversed into the building in the early hours of July 23.

ABLFFK supports children entering out-of-home care and their carers, and provides care kits for children placed into out-of-home care, as well as care support services and housing transition packages, and funds activities to enrich the lives of children.

The store sustained significant damage in the alleged act of vandalism and much of the donated toys inside were thrown out due to the risk of shattered glass.

About $12,000 worth of damage was dealt to the building, and an estimated $20,000-$30,000 worth of toys were no longer safe to be given to kids.

“The people from Loy Yang B came down and cleaned all the glass out, gone through all the toys and thrown out the ones that contained glass. They’re fantastic, every time something happens, these guys come and sort it out for us,” Ms Baird told the Express.

“You should have seen it this morning – everything had glass on it. But the shop looks amazing now.”

Loy Yang B General Manager, Tony Hicks said ABLFFK was one of the business’ valued community partners.

“It’s a cause that resonates with us, and we’re thrilled to have a long-running partnership with them to support the incredible work they do,” Mr Hicks said.

“Many of our people have built strong relationships with Heather and her team over the years during volunteering days. When they heard the news, they were eager to help, and we were happy to make the time available to help the charity get back on its feet.”

Ms Baird said she couldn’t watch while the toys were being thrown out, noting the community had donated them.

Some of the shelves now have brand new toys, but ABLFFK will continue to accept donations to fill out the rest of the shelves – fulfilling the building’s original purpose before the damage.

Anyone wishing to help A Better Life For Foster Kids can phone Heather on 0412 154 424 or visit the charity’s Facebook page.

It only took mere hours for the perpetrators of the ram-raid to be arrested.

Police said a white Haval SUV, allegedly stolen, reversed into the building around 1.30am on July 23. The vehicle was left at the scene.

It is not believed anything was taken and there were no injuries, however the store sustained significant damage.

A short time later, officers intercepted a black BMW in the Darnum area, where four men were arrested.

The men from Melbourne, aged 21, 20, 20 and 20 years, have since been charged with theft of motor vehicle, burglary with intent to commit arson and criminal damage, and have been bailed to appear before the Sale Magistrates’ Court on November 4.