Who would rob a cancer charity? Outreach center is frustrated, but 'the work goes on'

Who would break into a cancer support center to steal electronics?

That's the question Melanie Wilson, CEO of Cancer Care Services, and her staff are dealing with as they turn their attention to replacing a shattered window, three computers and a flat-screen television that were stolen from their downtown offices Saturday.

"Who would take advantage of an organization that exists only to give?" Wilson said in a phone interview Tuesday. "Everything we provide is provided for free. That makes it all the more challenging to understand."

Cancer Care Services had just used some grant money to update a room the organization uses for support groups. They outfitted the room with a brand-new TV and a nice soundbar speaker they planned to use for adapted yoga sessions and meditation DVD therapy.

All that is gone now. Someone threw a chunk of concrete through an east-facing window of the building at 623 S. Henderson St., and ransacked that room plus a room that served as offices for CCS social workers.

"I can't imagine a thief getting $25 for a CPU that's five years old," Wilson said. "But now we should be helping people with cancer this week, but we're not, we're scrambling, and it's that disruption of the focus that frustrates me the most. But the work goes on."

No suspects have been identified in the robbery, according to Fort Worth police officer Daniel Segura, a department spokesman.

Office manager Justin Carter spent his Sunday boarding up the broken window and sweeping up the glass from the forced entry. As soon as CCS posted about the robbery on Facebook on Monday, though, Wilson began to see another side to the robbery.

"The outpouring of support has been incredible," Wilson said. "Social media alone created a great deal of buzz, and we're trying to direct people to making a contribution so that we can put those dollars where they're needed most, spread the donations as far as we can."

Wilson expects to receive three donated computers Tuesday or Wednesday, but the organization still needs software for the computers and replacements for what was taken from the support group room. To make a contribution, click here and hit the big yellow "Contribute" button in the top right corner.

Wilson said $810 in contributions came in through the CCS website Monday.

CCS offers support for cancer patients, survivors and their families and links patients to other cancer services, at no charge. It has operated in Fort Worth for 72 years.

Matthew Martinez: 817-390-7667; @MCTinez817

This story was originally published January 23, 2018 at 11:28 AM with the headline "Who would rob a cancer charity? Outreach center is frustrated, but 'the work goes on'."