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Thieves target Marysville food bank truck

MARYSVILLE, Wash. — Thieves targeted the Marysville Community Food Bank by siphoning gas and cutting the fuel line of one of their delivery trucks,

But the organization, dedicated to helping people in need, found itself on the receiving end of human kindness.

Amy Howell has dedicated the last 10 years to helping families in need at the Marysville Community Food Bank .

“Seeing them leave, knowing their bellies are going to be full -- that's what makes my week, makes my day,” Howell said.

Howell is the assistant director at the food bank.

When she discovered the damage to the delivery truck on Saturday morning, she was devastated.

“The first thing was, ‘Oh no. How are we going to get this repaired?'” Howell added.

You see, it is one of two delivery trucks that pick up donations from grocery stores and the Northwest Harvest Food Bank in Renton to replenish these shelves.

The food bank helps 300 families a week, and the need goes up during the summer.

“Kids are out of school, families need more food,” Howell explained. “During school time, schools do a lot of food drives for us, and this of time of year donations go down.”

It's not the first time thieves have stolen their gas.

KIRO 7 has also covered other gas thefts in the area, like when vandals cut the gas line to a truck belonging to the Lake Stevens Community Food Bank.

Fortunately, it ended up being an easy fix for Howell's husband, who works at Boeing.

The other bright spot: When the word spread that the food bank was hit by thieves, the donations started pouring in - more than enough to cover the repair.

“This is an amazing community,” said Howell. “Really good in supporting the Marysville Food Bank and its fellow neighbors.”

There is a surveillance camera, but unfortunately it didn’t catch much

Howell has filed a police report.

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