Des Moines Sun

Thieves looking to ruin the Christmas cheer of those less fortunate broke into a warehouse, stealing items that were being prepared for delivery to families enduring the pain of losing a loved one.

The warehouse containing items for the EveryStep Grief & Loss Services’ Cheer Box programs was vandalized by unknown individuals, according to the organization's website. Family-friendly gifts were being packaged into Cheer Boxes that were scheduled to be picked up for delivery during the holiday season.

"As you may have seen on the news, the warehouse broken into was being used by EveryStep staff and volunteers to wrap Cheer Boxes. EveryStep staff and volunteers are planning to deliver 660 Cheer Boxes this holiday season," EveryStep Grief & Loss Services posted on its Facebook page.

EveryStep CEO Tray Wade said the plan is to deliver 660 Cheer Boxes, each including 12 items, though more donations will be needed to replace the items that were stolen, Radio Iowa reported. 

“They took a number of items out of the boxes — items such as games — they targeted our design keychains that have a special message and out EveryStep information on them,” Wade said. "But then they also took some larger items.”

Two vehicles were stolen, but have since been recovered though they cannot be driven. 

“They stole our delivery truck and our delivery van that we use to deliver the boxes out to the community,” Wade said, Radio Iowa reported. “They actually ended up even taking the treats and the pop and the coffee that we had set aside for the volunteers who come in and give up their time putting these together.”

Urbandale police are investigating the thefts. Wade said EveryStep is moving forward with plans to complete the deliveries at the end of this month.

“We have a resilient team, and I am incredibly proud of how the team has pulled together and said it might take a little bit of extra work and a lot of time and effort be we’re definitely getting these cheer boxes out to people who need them, who have experienced the loss who are going to go through a really tough holiday season,” Wade told Radio Iowa. “We don’t quite know how yet, but we are going to make it happen some way.”

Anyone who wants to help EveryStep can do so by donating. 

“Right now we could really use, to be quite honest, just cash donations,” Wade said. “If they want to participate and want to support this program, they can go to EveryStep.org if they wanted to donate." Volunteers are also needed.