Vandals strike Valley nonprofits

WASILLA -- Vandals destroyed two large windows last week at the American Red Cross in Wasilla and one window in the neighboring Treasure Loft Thrift Store.

Rocks almost as large as soccer balls were hurled through the glass in two instances, either late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. One of the Red Cross' windows apparently was struck with an object other than a rock, shattering one pane of glass but not penetrating the inside pane.

Diane Krauszer, co-manager of the Treasure Loft, shook her head Thursday afternoon over the senseless damage.

"Both our organizations are here to serve people," she said.

The Treasure Loft is owned by Mat-Valley Cripple Children and Adults Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people in the Valley. It's managed by Valley Residential Services and sponsored by Valley Christian Conference.

Both organizations have offices in the Eagle Building on Nelson Avenue. At the Treasure Loft, someone entered a front door that is routinely left unlocked so people can drop off donated items. Krauszer said a mounted surveillance camera was ripped from the wall, and bags of donations were opened and merchandise strewn across the room.

"They created chaos," she said.

Krauszer and husband Paul, who also manages the store, say they'll change their open-door policy and instead lock up the drop-off room at night. That will make it more difficult for people to leave donations, but they said there's no alternative.

No one entered the Red Cross office, which was locked.

"I don't know if they were trying to get in or just trying to cause damage," said Tanya Larrabee, Wasilla's Red Cross branch programs manager. "They took our two biggest windows. Both of them will have to be totally replaced so I guess we're probably looking at $1,000."

It wasn't the first incident of vandalism for either organization. Vandals twice damaged Red Cross vehicles earlier this year. Now, one is kept locked in a secure storage area volunteered by a private citizen. The other vehicle is parked at Wasilla Police Department at night.

Krauszer believes whoever committed the vandalism may brag about it to someone, and will possibly be apprehended. She also hopes that local residents keep an eye out when they pass the offices at night.

She and Larrabee believe youths are responsible.

"It all boils down to knowing where your kids are and what they're doing," Larrabee said. "This is stupid and it's definitely getting old. To think we have to spend our time and resources on this when we could be doing other things."