COVENTRY, Conn., Aug. 7 (UPI) -- A pastor at a church in Coventry, Conn., says $218 raised to help an orphan in India was among items stolen from the church office.
Senior Pastor Brad Evans of the Presbyterian Church in Coventry said the stolen funds were part of $522 in cash and coins that had been raised by Vacation Bible School participants for an orphan in Manipur, India, The Hartford (Conn.) Courant said Thursday.
Evans said the thief or thieves who found the funds inside one of the church's offices last weekend only stole the bills, leaving the collected coins behind.
Several other items, including a laptop computer, were also stolen from the church, the pastor added.
Police said testing was under way on forensic evidence from the scene of the recent crime.
Evans told the Courant the funds were collected to help purchase clothing, food, schooling and medical care for the orphan, identified only as Ruth.
"This is the first time we've sponsored a child in this way," he said. "Last year we bought them clothing -- T-shirts, pants and socks."
