Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Writer

The Salvation Army's annual Christmas thrust to provide food, clothes and treats for the homeless throughout the island suffered a major blow when thieves stole an estimated $200,000 from its premises at 53 Lyndhurst Road, St. Andrew.

"The money was a mixture of cash and cheques, a portion of which was donation collected from the Christmas Kettle Appeal," said Major Denzil Walcott, head of the Lyndhurst Road centre. "We will be hard pressed to recover the funds."

Disappointment

Boys undergoing rehabilitation at the Salvation Army collect donations along the streets from November 17 to December 24 each year, the period that the 'appeal' spans.

Major Walcott explained that, "We had promised the boys that we would have given them 10 per cent of the money they collected, towards their Christmas celebrations. We will have to find a way not to disappoint them".

Annually, proceeds from the appeal are used to host treats at children's and golden age homes and at infirmaries at Christmas time. On these occasions food, clothes and special gifts are shared.

Not going well

The target set by the kettle committee at the start of November was $5 million; however, Major Walcott told The Gleaner in an interview last Friday that the campaign was not going well.

The police theorise that the thieves gained entry by jumping the back wall of the Melrose All-Age School that is alongside the rear of the premises. They then proceeded through an already opened entrance into the administration department where they forced their way into the office through the roof.