The tin at Big Mumma’s Kitchen was close to full and staff said it was taken from the front counter about 5pm on Sunday.
The money collected was to go towards the Kidney Kar Rally, in which locals Mark Haberfield, Andrew Warren and Gerard Warren were taking part in in less than two weeks.
‘‘I estimate between $200 to $300 was stolen, because a full tin holds around $350, so it’s pretty disappointing,’’ Mr Haberfield said.
Big Mumma’s Kitchen owner Cheryl Fitzpatrick felt the act had let down the community and has chained the replacement tin to the counter.
‘‘The customers have been fantastic (in their generosity) and they are all disappointed, because it is their money that has been stolen.
‘‘We had a lady come in, she went home to get money and came back, but the tin had been stolen.’’
Cobram police Constable Ramadan Hamidon said there were no developments in the case at this stage.
He said it was the first time he had come across this sort of incident in his two years in Cobram.
The Kidney Kar Rally is a charity event where drivers travel more than 6000km from Port Macquarie to Armidale, via the Capricorn Coast.
Money raised from the event goes towards helping more than 700 young people — aged between 15 and 24 — living with advanced kidney disease in Australia and are going through the difficult transition from paediatric care to adult clinical health settings.
Drivers set off for Port Macquarie from Cobram Panel Works on Wednesday, August 7.
The store was hoping to recoup the lost funds by holding a raffle. Big Mumma’s Kitchen is asking for local businesses, which could offer items to raffle, to contact the shop on 5871 1882 or via its Facebook page.
18°C