The windows at the Lethbridge Food Bank seen boarded up (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge Food Bank a victim of long weekend vandalism

Aug 5, 2020 | 10:46 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Lethbridge Food Bank is still open for regular service following an incident of vandalism over the long weekend.

Executive director Maral Kiani-Tari told Lethbridge News Now that the event happened on Monday, August 3 at around 2:00 p.m.

“We had an individual vandalize the windows in the front of our building. It seems like the individual was quite upset that we were closed for the civic holiday,” Kiani-Tari said.

No one was in the building at the time of the incident, and Kiani-Tari said a witness notified police, who then proceeded to contact a food bank board member, who attended the south-side site.

“We were closed for the civic holiday and we [have] actually had a sign on our door for the last two weeks indicating that our food bank [would] be closed for the Monday, and letting clients know that they [wouldn’t] be able to access our services on that Monday.”

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Kiani-Tari said she couldn’t put a dollar figure on the damages but noted it may take a few weeks before the four windows are replaced.

“We also had decals on those windows, so those need to be replaced as well,” she added, saying she estimates the damage to cost a “couple of thousand dollars”.

Rocks did go through into the building, but no equipment was damaged. However, Kiani-Tari said glass was “everywhere”.

She said volunteers and staff continue to clean up the glass, to ensure no one is injured and supplies does not get damaged.

SECURITY

Kiani-Tari said there are cameras set up around the building that captured the act of vandalism. The food bank also has an alarm system installed, which was set off by the shattering of glass.

She told LNN that acts like this are nothing new to the Lethbridge Food Bank.

“We’ve had nine glasses [windows] around the building broken, including the ones that just happened, in the last month and a bit,” she said.

Kiani-Tari added that service is running as normal following the incident.

Lethbridge News Now has contacted the Lethbridge Police Service, but no further details have been provided.

Since the incident, a fundraiser has been set up to assist the food bank. So far, the fundraiser has collected over $2,000. It can be accessed here.