Aldergrove charity hit with second break-in under a year
Posted February 25, 2025 7:37 am.
Last Updated February 25, 2025 1:45 pm.
The warehouse of the Fibromyalgia Wellspring Foundation was broken into for a second time in just a year last week.
For nearly two decades, Cheryl Young has dedicated her life to the foundation and the charity’s thrift store in Aldergrove.
“We’re always out there helping because that’s what we’re about. We’re not about, yeah, making money, but that’s not our focus, it’s helping people, socializing them, having a place for them to come,” she explained.
The shop is run by a team of volunteers, and the items for sale come entirely from donations. But just a few days ago, the foundation’s warehouse on Fraser Highway was broken into — its glass door smashed and a laptop, a computer town, and a speaker stolen. The losses add up to more than $3,000.
“It really hurts when people are kicking out at you when we’re just there to help them,” Young explained. “If somebody wants something, ask us you’ll get it. Because it’s all donated.”
The break-in happened in the early hours of Feb. 20, with a security camera on the other side of the complex capturing two people running back and around the building in just a few minutes. This is the second break-in that the charity has been hit with in just 12 months.
“[At] 4:32 in the morning and then at 4:42 they came back – they spend six minutes in the warehouse going through everything. They kicked in the door upstairs. Last time they came in they took the till which cost us $600 to replace,” business manager Michael Thom explained.
“Why us? Well, why not us right? People are attacking small businesses all over Vancouver, here as well. As a charity, it hurts because we raise everything ourselves.”
Despite the added stress, Young refuses to lose sight of why she started the charity in the first place — to raise awareness for and support for people living with Fibromyalgia.
“We’re still alive and kicking after all these years, no matter how many people aren’t supportive of us. we’re still here. It doesn’t matter how many times – we’re preparing for it. Trying to get rid of us, not gonna happen,” Young said.
The foundation is set to host a community fundraiser in March.
