Donors replace $50K stolen from Metropolitan Ministries holiday tents

Metropolitan Ministries has received enough donations to replace an estimated $50,000 in materials stolen from its holiday tent sites across the Tampa Bay area, including one in Pinellas County.

The nonprofit told 10 Tampa Bay News (WTSP) that community contributions had more than covered the loss. The stolen materials had been staged at tents in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties as the organization prepares to serve holiday meals to 30,000 families this season.

The Pinellas County tent is one of four sites affected. Metropolitan Ministries has deep roots in the county. The Pinellas Community Foundation has supported the organization since 2014, providing $349,572.97 across five grants over 12 years to help feed thousands of Pinellas County families, put a mobile outreach van on the road and keep older adults in their homes.

Someone broke into the Hillsborough County holiday tent site in the West Shore area and stole aluminum from pipe-and-drape equipment along with several other items, according to Tampa Bay 28. The materials had been staged for four holiday tents in Hillsborough, East Pasco, West Pasco and Pinellas counties. The organization estimated the loss could total as much as $50,000.

"We're not going to allow the Grinch to steal our holidays," President and CEO Dr. Sarah Combs said, according to WTSP.

Combs said the organization's focus remains on the families counting on it this holiday season.

A police report was filed, but Metropolitan Ministries says there are still no leads in the case.