SALEM, Ore. -- Donations earmarked for sick children ended up in the hands of thieves.
“It’s incredibly disheartening,” said Matt Radtke of Gilgamesh Brewing.
Radtke says one of the brewery’s top sellers is the Terry Porter. A dollar from every pint goes to the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation. All of the dollar bills are kept in a tall glass tower at the brewery’s front door.
“We’ve been able to raise over $100,000 since starting this program,” said Radtke. “It’s been really successful.”
That success makes what happened early Monday morning all the more devastating.
“They came through the tent,” said Radtke. “They pried the door open.”
Radtke says somebody broke in the back door, shattered the tall glass tower, and stole the donations designated for sick kids.
“I think it would be hard not to know where the money is going,” said Radtke. “It was all over the glass case.”
Radtke says it is hard to tell how much the thief or thieves got away with, but he believes the amount is in the neighborhood of $3,000.
“Unfortunately there are dishonest people everywhere,” said brewery patron Patty Baskin.
Gilgamesh owners plan to make back some of the stolen money by holding an auction late next month.
“Instead of getting too caught up with the negative we want to double down on the positive,” said Radtke.
Anyone with information about the break-in is urged to contact the Salem Police Department.