DAMAGED VEHICLE HOBBLES NONPROFIT
Theft attempt leaves Christian Outreach's food delivery truck unusable
Christian Outreach in Action has been providing hot meals and a large food pantry in downtown Long Beach for years — along with its many other services — relying in large part on donations from area stores and food banks.
To facilitate the food program, COA has used a 2015 Chevy panel truck. But on July 4, when the nonprofit was closed for Independence Day, someone attempted to steal the truck, ultimately destroying the steering column, dashboard and more before giving up, according to COA Executive Director Dixie Dohrmann.
Now the truck is sitting at a dealership and the best option is to get it repaired, Dohrmann said, but the price tag is $8,000.
“They really wanted that truck,” Dohrmann said Monday. “They drilled the locks out of both doors. They destroyed the steering column, taking the ignition out. But there's a security chip in the key and it won't start without the chip. That really worked.”
The truck had been averaging seven trips a day picking up and dropping off pallets of food, as well as handling large donations. The COA is making due now with two pickup trucks, Dohrmann said.
COA serves about 170,000 meals annually at its facility at 515 E. Third St., including breakfast seven days a week, dinner weekdays and lunch on Saturdays. It hosts a food pantry five days a week, laid out in farmers market style, allowing people to choose the food they want. A strong partnership with Amazon Fresh has kept the pantry supplied with fresh produce, Dohrmann said.
Along with the food service, COA provides clothing, diapers and more to those who need them. An attorney offers legal help once a week and a new street health program has just launched.
Losing the truck has made
operations very difficult, Dohrmann said, and some donations haven't been picked up.
“We ask them to give it to someone else,” she said. “We don't want the food to go to waste.
“We don't turn anyone away,” she added. “We find a way to get them what they need.”
COA does carry insurance, Dohrmann said, but the deductible is already very high. Instead, she said, the community is being asked to help by paying the bill.
A GoFundMe account has been created specifically for the truck — gofund.me/7414f0ca. COA operates completely through donations — including to its thrift store, called Clark and Atherton Mercantile, named after its cross streets — and the need never seems to ease, Dorhmann said.
For more information or to donate directly, go to coalongbeach.org.