After thieves stole more than $1,000 of new equipment from the Hollister Little League last week, an outpouring of community support has generated donations that more than compensate for the loss.
Over $2,400 was raised by several community members, organizations and clubs that heard about the theft, according to Little League President Joe Tonascia.
Since Monday, seven different people and groups have donated money, and several others have donations pending, he said.
“It’s one of those feel-good things. Everybody gets upset when kids get ripped off – you just don’t do it,” Tonascia said. “Usually in a community like San Benito County and Hollister, when something happens to an organization that deals with youth, people are very generous and understanding in helping out.”
Thieves broke into a storage shed at the Veterans Memorial Sports Complex and stole more than 200 baseballs, some chest guards, shin guards and other miscellaneous gear sometime last Thursday night, according to Hollister police.
The theft left 680 little leaguers with a diminished supply of old equipment to use instead of the brand new gear that was stolen.
The incident is still under investigation but there are no suspects, police said.
When Sheriff’s Deputy Roy Iler heard about the theft he decided to broach the subject of donating to the League with fellow members of the local Deputy Sheriff’s Association union.
“My son plays in Little League and I’m always there on Saturdays,” Iler said. “It just made us mad, because it’s the children that suffer. We thought we would give something to keep the program going.”Dave Spencer, owner of Hollister Pontiac Buick GMC, cut a personal check for the Little League the day he found out about the break-in, he said.
Little League is close to Spencer’s heart. He helped found the Capitola-Soquel Little League, he said.
“It hit home because people used to break into ours over there (in Capitola),” Spencer said. “It makes me sick – there’s no sense in stuff like that.”
The Little League organization has tried to protect its equipment by installing metal and concrete containers, sturdy locks and bright lights, but if people want to break in again they will probably find a way, Tonascia said.
The misgivings haven’t dampened the children’s spirits, who don’t care what kind of equipment they play with, as long as they can play, he said.
“The kids are pretty easy going – they think ‘how stupid, how could they do that,'” Tonascia said. “But they’re still playing.”
Anyone with information about the break-in can contact the Hollister Police Department at 636-4330, or to make a donation to the Hollister Little League contact Joe Tonascia at 637-0750.
Erin Musgrave can be reached at 637-5566, ext. 336 or at
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