DELTONA, Fla. – Donations poured in at the Deltona Walmart Tuesday morning to help get results for a Girl Scout whose cash box was stolen while she was selling cookies.
Volusia County deputies say the man was caught on surveillance video stealing the money from the 12-year-old Girl Scout outside the Walmart on Howland Boulevard on Sunday.
The Mix 105.1 radio station says after hearing News 6's story at 11 p.m. Monday, they decided to pitch in to help collect money for the troop.
"We all have kids. We all do fundraisers and stuff and the work that these kids do to make the money so they can travel or they can get uniforms and then to hear that these Girl Scouts had their cookies taken, it was unacceptable to us," said Adam Alexander, on-air producer of "Morning Mix." "We've had so many people donating and so many people angry about this, but opening up their purses and really helping out."
Alexander said it was a no brainer to pitch in and raise money for the troop.
"We heard about it on Channel 6 and Jay, Dana and I from the Morning Mix, we all heard about and said you know, this is ridiculous," he said.
Alexander taped up a homemade sign outside the store and said he didn't have to wait long for folks to donate.
"I heard about it this morning when I was taking my grandchildren to school. I was thinking, how can a person do something like that? I told them no, I'm going to go over there and give them something," said Teresa Raimundo.
Between donations and a GoFundMe page, the community helped raise more than $1,000. News 6 donated to the Girl Scout troop live with radio partner Mix 105.1 Wednesday on the morning show. The CEO of the Girl Scout Citrus Council accepted the donations of $535.
The Girl Scout Citrus Council also responded to the community's response and said in part:
"It was an unfortunate situation but we are so touched by the outpouring of support and it's wonderful. We are grateful News 6 jumped in and gave such a high level of support and we're thankful for everything," said Vandra Washington, Chief of Staff.
Meanwhile, deputies are continuing to search for the man, along with this woman and child in tow. They say the group drove away in a gray Hyundai Santa Fe with a North Carolina license plate.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.