BELLEVUE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A nonprofit is left heartbroken after their community garden was burglarized Thursday night in Bellevue.
Bell Garden, located next to Bellevue Middle School, was founded in 2012. Now, those behind the nonprofit are trying to figure how to rebuild after the property was trashed and damaged.
“I came through and saw the sign on the ground and I was kind of like, ‘Well, why is the sign on the ground?'” said Robert Allensworth, treasurer of the nonprofit. “Then, we discovered there was glass everywhere and on the ground, and as we came to the door we noticed the place had been broken into.”
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), the garden’s hothouses were destroyed and their portable classrooms are gone.
“I walked in and I absolutely burst into tears because of what we do, our mission and all the folks we serve. It just absolutely broke my heart,” said Missy Hamilton, president of Bell Garden.
Hamilton added Bell Garden is volunteer-based and grant-funded, stating that Thursday night’s incident has destroyed what they use to keep the lights on.
“That’s what’s really hurting me,” expressed Hamilton. “How do you tell young people in the middle school and high school that this is that kind of world?”
According to Hamilton, the nonprofit was in the process of building an “ability garden,” which would have provided folks of all abilities the opportunity to garden.
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For the first time, the nonprofit is asking for public donations. To learn how you can help, click here. Community members are also invited to stop by the garden at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, to help clean up.
The MNPD said they are investigating Thursday night’s incident. No additional details were released.
