(WWJ) A community garden in Macomb County was looted over Labor Day weekend, devastating the group that made it grow.
The gardening group at the Clinton Township Senior Adult Life Center, on Romeo Plank, near Canal Road, arrived on Wednesday ready to harvest, only to discover that nearly 300 lbs. of produce had been stolen.
"The whole garden had been emptied out; I mean, the whole garden!" the center's Assistant Director Debbie Travis told WWJ Newsradio 950's Erin Vee.
"Garden club members are so sad that somebody would do this to their precious garden," she said. "It's odd, because even a family coming through, you know, they would take enough for their meal, or the week or whatever... But, I mean, this is a significant amount of vegetation! So I can't imagine what was done with it other than just senseless vandalism."
Travis said, for the past eight years the group has been meeting three times a week to tend what they call, "The Garden of Life."
Adding to the disappointment is that the veggies were intended for local people in need.
"We give about 80% of what we harvest out to the community, the Vet's Association... there's other food pantries in our area here that we donate out to," Travis said.
The rest is sold for nickels and dimes to seniors on a fixed income or without access to fresh food.
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While the group doesn't really have a solid time as to when the crime took place, the last time garden club members were in the garden was the morning of Friday, Sept. 3.
By the end of the holiday weekend, it was all stolen and some produce destroyed. Carrots were pulled and thrown to the side, green tomatoes were all picked, and various other crops removed.
“When one of our Garden Club members came to me to report the incident, she had tears in her eyes," said Travis.
Travis said there are no suspects in the heist, but whomever stole the veggies would have needed the means to move them.
She said they're hoping the culprit or culprits can see the hurt caused by their actions, and will consider coming to help replant the garden next year.