Community Rallies Behind Nonprofit After Repeated Vandalism
St. Louis, Mo. – A man has been arrested and charged with repeatedly throwing bricks and other objects through the windows of the Thomas Dunn Learning Center (TDLC) since April. The nonprofit organization, which has served the St. Louis region for over 90 years, is now facing significant financial strain due to the damage caused by the alleged acts of vandalism.
The TDLC building on Gasconade has been in operation since 1991. It offers educational programs and community activities for people of all ages. Gary Gordon, a local father, often brings his children to the center for various events. He describes the learning center as an essential part of the community.
“It means a lot and it’s real good for the community, I’d say,” Gordon said.
Caitlyn Dorion, the operations manager at TDLC, explained that the organization’s mission is to build a sustainable community through education. However, she emphasized that the term “education” can be quite broad and encompasses many different aspects of learning.
Despite its long-standing presence in the area, the nonprofit is struggling to maintain its operations after experiencing multiple incidents of property damage. Since April, the TDLC has had its windows smashed five times, with one of the incidents occurring as recently as Sunday. Some of the damaged windows were repaired, only to be broken again later.
Dorion highlighted the impact of these repeated attacks on the organization’s resources. “Our mission and our heart are mighty, but our budget is small and so having eight broken-out windows and a glass door, which is a main entrance for our facility, is huge,” she said.
The first reported incident occurred on April 27. Timothy Malone, 43, is now facing two counts of first-degree property damage and three counts of second-degree property damage. He was arrested on July 14 inside a vacant building near the learning center.
While the damage has been devastating, the community has responded with support. News of the vandalism spread quickly on social media, prompting donations from locals who wanted to help cover the repair costs. Dorion expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support.
“It’s just heartwarming. It fills our bucket and gives us a little boost to keep going,” she said.
The TDLC continues to serve the community despite the challenges it faces. The organization remains committed to its mission of fostering education and community development. As the investigation into the vandalism continues, the focus remains on restoring the facility and ensuring that it can continue to provide valuable services to the residents of St. Louis.
