By Ann Rubin
Jennings, MO (KSDK) - It's lights out at a Jennings food pantry after vandals struck overnight, taking all their copper wiring.
Volunteers at the Jennings Food Pantry for the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church discovered the problem this morning.
"The guy was like this is your problem but you aren't going to have any electricity ever up here anymore," said Rita Kemna.
No light, no heat, and for the women who volunteer here, there's still lots of work to be done.
"When we found out it was like sad. What else can they do to us?" said volunteer Kathy Uhlenbrock.
Police believe the thieves came in through the window. And volunteers say it isn't the first time.
"They've cut the water lines and flooded us out. They've cut the gas and almost blew up the building," said Kemna.
And now this.
"It's almost like the straw that broke the camel's back. You know no heat and no lights and it's going to be hard to move," added Kemna.
And that's the other problem. By the end of the month, the food pantry has to vacate this building.
They'll be giving out food for the last time on the 18th. Then they'll pack up.
"We just wanted to help the people in need and do something good. And when they do this to us, it makes it so much harder on us," said Uhlenbrock.
They've been looking for a new location in Jennings for about six months, so far they've been unsuccessful.
The lack of power is just the final frustration.
But volunteers say they hope this isn't the end of the food pantry.
"Everybody has been believing that we're going to find another location and it's just hard to say we haven't found one," said Kemna.
Again, their last food distribution day will be the 18th, unless they can find a new building in Jennings by the end of February.
If you know of a suitable building space in Jennings, send an email to uhlenbrocktwins@charter.net.
KSDK