Community Opens Hearts For Girl Whose Donations for Woman with Cancer Were Stolen at Lemonade Stand

CUTCHOGUE, NY — After a thief stole donations from a Cutchogue girl raising money with a lemonade stand to help a beloved school crossing guard with cancer, an outraged and caring community is coming together to restore her faith in humanity.

A sunny Saturday that started out as a fundraiser to help Renee Phelps, a Cutchogue East crossing guard, took a dark turn when Faith Ann Shipman, 11, saw that someone had stolen all the money in her donation jar.

Faith Ann was up bright and early and had already garnered a jar full of donations from kind-hearted individuals who'd stopped at her stand, which was set up alongside her family's yard sale.

Faith Ann went inside for a moment, her mother Beth Shipman said. Shipman said she turned away from the stand and then, when she looked back, saw a man who seemed to be putting a quantity of money in his pocket. That man, she said, left in a red SUV.

When news spread about the theft, the community rallied and has been urging Faith Ann to remain positive. Many have sent donations and some have even suggested a GoFundMe page.

"Don't let the bad people break your beautiful spirit," one woman wrote.

Shipman said many have reached out on social media after hearing the story, hoping to donate funds and support Faith Ann in her act of goodwill. One man and his wife even found the family and came to their door to donate.

Wendy's Deli in Mattituck also set up a donation jar on the counter to help Faith Ann. "I have been thinking about what we can do to help Faith Shipman get back the money that was taken from her," a Facebook post said. "I will be putting a Donation Jar on the counter at the deli tomorrow for anyone that wants to help. This young girl was just trying to do the right thing. I think we can help her out."

The Shipmans said they're overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness.

"There's amazing generosity in our community," Shipman said.

Faith Ann added, "It makes me very happy that so many people care. It feels good living in a great community, where so many people are kind."

Added Shipman, "Witnessing firsthand the generosity of our community is so heartwarming. The fact that out of something negative as theft, comes an outpouring of love, is just amazing."

The Shipmans filed a police report; they have no idea how much was stolen, but said the glass jar had been stuffed with bills.

"I can only hope the person who was desperate enough to steal from a cancer fundraiser was in dire straits," Beth Shipman said. "That, perhaps, he needed it more than Renee at this moment."

After the theft, Faith Ann remained steadfast in her mission; she kept on selling lemonade at the yard sale, and three Southold Town police officers even stopped by to purchase some.

To support Faith Ann's efforts to help Phelps, her mom said donations can be sent to Faith Shipman, Lem-Ren-Aid, P.O. Box 1315, Cutchogue, NY 11935 or dropped off at 75 Horseshoe Drive in Cutchogue in the evenings.