Donations Stolen From Family Christmas Ministry Light Display

For 11 years, the Downs family has been lighting up their front lawn and the night sky to help families in need.

“I just want them to realize where this was going to and that they took food out of peoples’ mouths,” said Kimberli Downs.

Sometime in the Sunday overnight hours, thieves broke into a donation box the family set-up on behalf of the Food Bank of Oklahoma and stole about $1,500 inside.

“7,000 meals is probably what is was equivalent to, that was stolen,” said Downs.

The Downs say they started this ministry to highlight the reason for the season, and they won't let one night cast a shadow on the ministry.

“The greatest gift was given at Christmas. We try to give a little back from our hearts with that love,” said Downs.

Norman Police plan on adding extra patrol around the home, and the family is even adding security cameras to the property so that this doesn’t happen again.

“The show will go on. I mean, my heart hopes that is was someone desperate, trying to feed their family. But I don't believe that. This time of year people get greedy. I don't think they realize the extent of what they were taking.”

Only one night’s worth of donations were locked up inside the box. The family says this is the first-time they’ve had money stolen during the holiday season.