EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — The East Hartford community is stepping up to help a neighbor after a "Grinch" appeared to have stolen a food donation bin from an elaborate Christmas decoration display.
The "Santa's Village" display on Oak Street is home to a front lawn full of inflatable decorations for the holidays. Rick Bollash runs the display and encourages visitors to bring donations to benefit St. Mary's East Hartford food pantry in return. This is his third year decorating the home for the holiday season.
"I started it after I had open heart surgery," he said. "Last year we collected probably about seven trunks full of food for them."
Bollash shared photos to social media Thursday of where the donation bin previously stood when it and the donations inside vanished. A rectangle patch of grass in the middle of the snow-covered yard and a damaged bin lid was all that was left.
"When I left to go to work, it was gone. Just a broken lid and a bunch of dry ground," Bollash said. "I guess they needed it."
Bollash said donations have been slow because the economy has impacted people's ability to give. Calls for more donations were made Friday by Mayor Mike Walsh.
"People from all over come to see the display, and all Mr. Bollash asks for in return are non-perishable food items or monetary donations to benefit the East Hartford Food Bank," Walsh said, and added, "Can you help us save Christmas?"
The community came through. Bollash's front porch had donations of food and paper goods piled up on his front door and he shared the good news Saturday morning.
"I had to walk around to the back door because the front steps were all full of food," he said. "I’ve just been trying to find space anywhere I can."
While FOX61 was at the home Saturday, a woman came by to drop off canned goods, another man stopped by to share his desire to donate bread from his bakery, and Hank Stephenson brought a box full of items.
"I felt like, if someone felt the need to take it, they must have needed it as well so there are a lot of people in need. I’m in a position where I can help out a little bit, so why not celebrate the holiday spirit by giving back," he said. "What better way to give back to the community and give to those in need."
Stephenson always walks by the home. Cars drove by the display and gave a 'honk' as a sign of appreciation.
Bollash has also raised $1,000 to give to the food pantry. He said cars will line up to drop off donations. He's even had people from out-of-state reach out since it happened to share they donated to their local food pantry because of him. Bollash said what's happened has made people more aware of the life many live.
"If people can find it to give or if they’re able to give fine. If you can’t give do whatever you can," he said. "If we can do this and bring a little joy to everybody, bring a little Christmas spirit back and see if we can get a community's giving thing going."
Mr. and Mrs. Claus are stopping by the home Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. Bollash is encouraging people to stop by for a walk around his Christmas setup and donate if they can.
Tony Black is a multi-media journalist at FOX61 News. He can be reached at tblack@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Leah Myers is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at lmyers@fox61.com
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