Antioch pastor overwhelmed by response to theft
A holiday tragedy has turned into a miracle for St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Antioch.
Days after news broke that someone had stolen hundreds of dollars worth of Christmas presents for needy children through the church's annual Open Arms Mission's Adopt-a-Family Program, donators are stepping forward and helping out.
“It's been truly overwhelming,” Pastor Ellen Arthur said Thursday. “Literally overnight, we went from having not much of nothing to having an overabundance of everything.”
She said hundreds of toys are piled to the ceiling of her office at the church in the 1100 block of Hillside Drive. A separate room is filled with winter items, such as coats, boots and gloves.
In addition, Arthur said, cash donations ranging from $5 to $750 have been pouring in to the church nonstop since word got out this week.
“At this point, we have easily tripled what we lost, and we know more is coming in,” she said. “It truly has restored my faith in humanity.”
Antioch Police officials were called to the church Monday after nearly $1,000 in presents were stolen from under a Christmas tree in an unlocked vestibule.
Police and Arthur said she left the church about noon to run errands, but the presents were gone by the time a parishioner entered the vestibule about 1:30 p.m.
The pastor sent emails to parishioners to determine if there was a mistake of some kind, but no one responded that they took the presents.
Arthur said the church annually collects for needy children for Christmas through the Open Arms Mission, and all presents or donations are sent to the group on Dec. 9.
Arthur said so much money and items have been donated that officials will meet with other charities in Lake County to “share the wealth.”
“We will make good use of the money and, most likely, share it with other Lake County agencies also trying to provide Christmas for people in need,” she said Wednesday. “We'd feel good sharing it where it's needed most.”
Arthur said people still interested in donating should contact the church at (847) 395-3359. She said all toys, coats, winter clothes, or money donated will go to families in need.
People interested in donating directly to the Open Arms Mission can do so at openarmsmission.org.