U of I’s Channing-Murray Foundation Recovering from Theft

One of the leaders of the Channing-Murray Foundation at the University of Illinois is calling a theft of proceeds from last weekend’s rummage sale ‘a small setback.”

Staff discovered more than $1,200 was stolen last Saturday night, shortly after raising the funds.

The President of its Board of Governors, Rachel Lauren Storm, said there’s a still a renewed sense of energy for social justice at the non-profit facility, and Red Herring Restaurant. 

“So (what) we’re actually looking to – it will sound counterintuitive, but to extend our hours, actually have more of our food prep reduced in terms of part of it perhaps being outsourced, and more of it made off of more re-useable and sustainable ingredients," she said.

Storm said staff at is planning to sell remaining items Saturday since Channing-Murray was overwhelmed with donations - with hopes of recouping what was lost.  She said the staff has gotten a lot of donations as well in the past week.

Storm said staff believes the theft was likely committed by someone with access to the building, noting a few people still have keys, and there's a lot of turnover among employees there.  There was no damage to the building.  All the locks were changed early this week.

The sale is Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Channing-Murray Foundation Chapel on West Oregon Street in Urbana.