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Large donation bins filled with groceries stolen from local church

MARS, Pa. — A Mars church had three large donation bins filled with groceries stolen from its front steps.

Saint Kilian Parish officials said they hope the food went to someone in need, but they'd still like those bins back. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the church is running a self-serve food pantry.

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Since the church can’t congregate because of the crisis, the weekly dinner to feed the needy shut down at the parish hall in Mars. As for the food pantry, it continues but just a little differently.

The parish set out huge bins at two locations: the parish hall and the church in Cranberry. Inside the secure bins were big bags of non-perishable items for those in crisis.

“People have been incredibly generous bringing food so we can provide food for others. I guess I am a cheerleader for this effort, but there are so many people that have worked so hard on this ministry and they really do,” said Father Charles Bober.

Bober hopes the food went to a needy family or families and is just asking for the containers back because they keep the self-serve food secure and away from animals.

Until he gets those containers, church volunteers can’t put out any more food. Saint Kilian feeds 150 families every week.

Bober also said Mars police is in the process of buying more bins to donate to them.