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Local soup kitchen continues to serve despite losing $2K of equipment in robbery

Posted at 2:15 PM, Oct 18, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-18 21:55:34-04

CINCINNATI -- The executive director of a local soup kitchen says a recent robbery will cost them thousands, but the incident hasn’t stopped them from serving those in need.

“We haven’t slowed down one bit,” Lauren Renee Moore said.

Moore, the executive director of Over-the-Rhine and Walnut Hills Kitchens and Pantry, said someone broke in between Sunday night and Monday morning and stole company checks, computers and printers.

Moore said it will cost about $2,500 to replace the stolen equipment, doors and locks.

“We’ve lost a whole week of work just to change our account information and make sure everything is secure, recover our files, it’s been a huge cost to the organization,” Moore said.

Despite the incident, Moore said the soup kitchen’s day-to-day operations weren’t affected.

“We have a great staff and a great team of volunteers who, through thick and thin, keep putting meals on for the people we serve,” Moore said.

The soup kitchen is the oldest in Cincinnati. They serve up over 1,600 meals a week, and they provide groceries and meal plans to families in Walnut Hills and Over-the-Rhine.

Moore said she can’t figure out why someone would steal from an organization that helps those in need.

“I hate to say that we can be demoralized by something like this, because if this organization has anything, it has an incredible, resilient spirit, but it is a little demoralizing … we’re a soup kitchen, and we’re just feeding the hungry day in and out,” Moore said.

Moore started a GoFundMe page to help with the costs of replacing equipment and enhancing security measures.