Anonymous donor gives $1,000 to Buena Park food pantry after thieves steal food, toys

BUENA PARK, Calif. (KABC) -- A real life Grinch tried to ruin Christmas at an Orange County food pantry, but an anonymous donor stepped in to save the day.

Concha De La Cruz, executive director of the Buena Park Coordinating Council, was still in shock that someone stole dozens of children's toys from the organization's annual toy drive.

"I don't know how these people could stand to live (with) themselves that they could steal from a little child," she said.

The food pantry serves homeless and low-income families. De La Cruz believes two volunteers may have been involved in the theft.

She filed a police report and contacted one of the volunteers in question. She told him she wanted the toys back because they were already low on donations this year. De La Cruz told the person she wouldn't press charges, but that they would not be allowed back to the organization.

But she said the man only returned two toys and now she wants to press charges. While police investigate the incident, volunteers scrambled to find toys for the more than 3,000 children who signed up.

While Eyewitness News was interviewing De La Cruz, a man who heard about the theft came into the organization and donated $1,000.

"Tell me if God didn't answer my prayers. You know, to me that's something that I never saw anybody do anything like that," De La Cruz said.

The man, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he just wanted to show that there are more good people in the world than bad.

"If we're going to turn around and make things right, we the good people have to stand up and do what's right," he said.

As of Saturday morning, the BPCC was still looking for more donations, but gave out toys from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.