A gift for a Parlier food bank depleted by thieves

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Parlier police are still trying to figure out who broke into the local food pantry and stole all of the donations. After our story about the break-in aired, people from all over the state stepped in to help. They've restocked the pantry, and just in time for families in need to have a holiday dinner.

The Pantry's now fully stocked shelves were stripped bare just a few days ago, after thieves broke in and stole all of the canned goods and food to the tune of two grand.

For Edgar Pelayo it was demoralizing. The break-in happened just days after a huge donation drive to gather items for the town's holiday dinner. He says if the thieves were in such need they should have asked, and the pantry would have gladly helped.

Pelayo said, "Our food is always accessible, so for us to have to come in and take it, it's kind of ironic."

As a child, Pelayo's family depended on food pantry's like this one. Now he works hard to make sure no family goes hungry. After talking about the break-in on ABC30, Pelayo got a phone call from a San Jose business owner who wanted to help.

Pelayo said, "For someone to come all the way from San Jose just to drop off a check to a random organization cause he heard a story on TV like I said, he called I didn't know what to say."

The business owner handed over a thousand dollars. Still others gave a few hundred bucks. A local produce company donated 80 boxes of oranges. It's been a community effort to bring back the holidays for Parlier families.

"It's very humbling to see the community respond in such a positive way and help us out when we are in need," said Pelayo.

That response not only restocked the shelves it's allowed Pelayo to buy the goods the pantry needs to fund the seventh annual giveaway, which will give about 800 people a deserving holiday dinner.