Sunnyvale Community Services was hit hard on May 27 when volunteers discovered more than $14,000 worth of donated Christmas goods missing from an empty shop at Town Center Mall. The store has served as a free storage site for the past 10 years.

The stolen goods include 40 cases of peanut butter, 20 cases of applesauce, and 739 toys and gifts, including clothing, blankets and children's books that have been donated throughout the year specifically for the Community Christmas Center.

The agency provides more than 1,000 low-income families every year with food and emergency financial assistance. It also holds a Community Christmas Center every year during the holidays and gives recipients a two-week supply of food, new toys and gifts for infants through teens and practical gifts, including towels, blankets or basic kitchen items.

But now, most of those toys and essential items are gone, which does not bode well for families in need.

The organization is facing its worst crisis ever this year because of the dip in the economy. Funding from government agencies and corporations has been reduced drastically.

"With schools closed and no meals available for children, utility bills high and many companies closed for one or two weeks, December is already a challenging month for low-income families. Cutting back the amount we distribute will only add to that burden," Nancy Tivol, executive director of Sunnyvale Community Services, said.

"We had already planned to reduce the amounts that we give out at the Christmas center this year," Tivol said. "The theft makes the situation that much worse."

According to Captain Greg Kevin, a Sunnyvale public safety officer, there may have been two separate occurrences of theft at the storage site, but the police have no suspects or leads.

There was no forced entry nor were there broken windows. None of the doors was pried open, said Kevin. "It could have been that somebody stole a key or used lock picks to get in. There are a number of possibilities," Kevin said.

This is the first theft the agency has ever experienced, said Tivol. "It is particularly unfortunate this year as we are seeing greater need and serving more clients than ever before despite funding cuts.".

The agency is holding a coordination meeting with representatives from corporations, small businesses, civic groups, schools, churches, youth and senior organizations and the general public to discuss various ways those groups can support the Community Christmas Center program. Depending on the response at the meeting, the center may be able to save Christmas and make up for the stolen goods.

The meeting will take place at 12 p.m. on September 3 at the center's new location at 725 Kifer Road in Sunnyvale. For more information call Marie Barlahan at 408.738.4298 or mbarlahan@svcommunityservices.org.