Ryedale Community Foodbank has been left reeling after thieves stole the fuel from the van used by volunteers to deliver emergency food parcels to vulnerable people in villages across the district.
Volunteers arriving to use the vehicle were puzzled to find an empty tank after it had just been filled up the day before.
They then discovered that the fuel tank had been drilled and the fuel taken.
Chair of the Ryedale Committee Foodbank trustees, Councillor Di Keal, said: “We are still counting the cost of the theft as we are waiting to see if the tank can be repaired, but as it stands the Foodbank is facing a large bill to replace it on top of the expense and inconvenience of losing the fuel.
“It is incomprehensible to me that anyone would go to such lengths and cause so much damage and disruption to anyone, let alone a Foodbank, just to steal some diesel.
“We have had to make alternative arrangements with volunteers to cover for the loss of the van whilst it is off the road to allow us to complete deliveries across Ryedale.
“We are just coming up to our busiest time of year with Christmas on the horizon, when the Foodbank is needed even more by hard pressed families.
“But we are determined to keep going despite this despicable act, but the expense and time wasted sorting out the damage does nothing to help us at such a challenging time.”
The Foodbank always welcomes donations of food which can be dropped off directly at any of the centres in Norton, Pickering and Kirkbymoorside or at collection points across all three towns in supermarkets and other venues.
For further information on making donations go to https://ryedalecommunityfoodbank.co.uk/useful-links-donate/
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