‘The kids were so disappointed’: Thief steals thousands from Bluffton theater nonprofit
A local theater group that helps children build skills and community across Bluffton is renovating a building to create a permanent home, but theft totaling around $6,000 has set them back significantly. Over the weekend, the group’s trailer and all the costumes, props and lighting that hadn’t been moved into the new location were stolen.
Bluffton Youth Theatre, a nonprofit founded in 2015 by Cynthia Ford, brings Lowcountry kids together to put on stage performances and teaches them “how to be compassionate and caring toward those who are different from them through the art of theatre.” It relies heavily on parent volunteers, and the money made from performances goes directly back into the group’s operation. Some of the youth in the program have developmental and physical disabilities.
One parent volunteer, Michele Hinkley-Cechini, said the group is in the process of moving into a permanent location for their theater after “bouncing around” local churches and other venues for the last eight years.
“It just makes me sad because, maybe if the people knew who they had taken that from, they wouldn’t have taken it,” Hinkley-Cechini said. “The kids were so disappointed.”
The trailer itself was likely what the thief was after, Hinkley-Cechini said. It’s valued at around $5,000, while the materials inside totaled about $1,000. A GoFundMe page was started to help cover the costs.
“It’s just sad to know that somebody would just take that and, no regret, I’m sure it just got thrown in the trash,” Hinkley-Cechini said. “Aside from the trailer itself, which we need, I would say that the saddest part is the stuff that was in it, because we worked hard on on all that stuff. We use our props over and over again.”
Hinkley-Cechini estimated the group has about 45 children working on its upcoming production of “Matilda,” set to run Aug. 2-6. Of the 45, she estimated about a third have a developmental or physical disability.
“They’re an incredible group and they’re all so talented,” Hinkley-Cechini said. “Some of them are terrified to get on stage for the first time, or even get up in front of somebody and speak. (Ford) is just incredible, and has an incredible way about her. She can get kids to do things that they never thought they would be able to do.”
The group’s GoFundMe has raised $365 as of Monday afternoon.
This story was originally published July 10, 2023 at 4:38 PM.
