DARRINGTON — The Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians has pledged $10,000 to the family resource center here after someone broke into the building and stole electronics and checks.
The break-in happened around 12:38 a.m. last Monday, said Alan Pickard, financial-operations director for North Counties Family Services. The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office took the burglary report that morning.
There was minimal damage, Pickard said, but electronics worth thousands of dollars were gone.
The nonprofit North Counties Family Services has a resource center downtown, across from the IGA grocery store. Staff connect people with support for food, housing and gas. There are activities for children and teens, dinners and events, and classes on topics such as parenting or job searches.
Security cameras captured images of the activity Monday morning, Pickard said.
No arrests had been made as of Friday, according to the sheriff’s office.
Staff at North Counties still are discovering items missing. The list so far includes laptops along with audio and video equipment, Pickard said. Checks also were swiped. He spent days closing that bank account, ordering new checks and re-establishing payments and deposits.
Linne Clarke, chairwoman of the North Counties Family Services Board, shared news of the break-in online. Many people expressed shock that someone would steal from an organization that helps others. Others encouraged the nonprofit to keep doing its work.
Shawn Yanity, chairman of the Stillaguamish Tribe, reached out to Clarke about a donation.
The loss of computers and other supplies can have a huge impact on an organization’s ability to keep up with daily work, Yanity said. In the case of North Counties, that work involves doing good for others. He didn’t want to see services put on hold.
“Here’s an opportunity to help them get back on their feet and make up for the loss of any computers or materials they need to do their job,” Yanity said. “It’s just our way of being able to lift their spirits during this hard time and help them get back to helping the Darrington community.”
Pickard said it’s been heartening to see social media used in a positive way.
“It’s great to be the go-to people and it’s great to have people acknowledge that,” he said.
Clarke became choked up talking about the donation. It’s a happy turn in what started as a bad situation.
“We just need to continue to focus on the good in our world and our people,” Clarke said.
Reporter Caleb Hutton contributed to this story.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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