Vandals set fire to Fletcher clothing donation box

Fletcher police are investigating multiple acts of vandalism, some of which they believe occurred overnight Sunday and were discovered Monday.

In one incident, police said a group of unidentified suspects set fire to a clothing donation box on Cole Avenue Sunday. The box serves as a collection point for donations to Arena Cowboy Church’s clothing closet. The box has since been repaired.

Fletcher Police Chief Jason DeLonais said a person or persons also attempted to break into a door at the town’s Little League field and tried pulling up a manhole cover but were ultimately unsuccessful.

Hurting those who are already hurting

Arena Cowboy Church Clothes Closet volunteer Jan Dunlap said the loss of the box’s contents doesn’t really impact their operations but expressed dismay that vandals would target those already down on their luck.

Dunlap said destroying the clothes donated in the box hurts everyone who comes in needing clothes.

“It’s just mean,” she said.

Lead volunteer Sandra Keller said the donation box has been cleaned up and is back in working condition.

Both Dunlap and Keller said all the clothes in the box were a total loss and had to be thrown out.

Fletcher police are asking anyone who may have seen the incident occur or who may have information about the crimes to contact police at (580) 549-4242.