An Olympia nonprofit that teaches music to youth says thousands of dollars' worth of instruments and audio equipment were stolen from its headquarters last week.
Bobby Williams, executive director of The Bridge Music Project, broke the news of the theft in a Tuesday Facebook post. He said the young artists the nonprofit serves rely on the lost equipment to "express themselves, process trauma and grow through music."
"What's most upsetting is that The Bridge is meant to be a safe and supportive space," Williams said in the post. "This violation goes beyond stolen equipment, it shakes the sense of security we've worked so hard to build for our youth."
Police Lt. Paul Lower said the nonprofit reported the theft to the Olympia Police Department on Monday, March 17, and estimated that about $10,000 worth of equipment was taken. The building that houses the equipment, which is located on 2600 block of Martin Way East, did not show any obvious signs of damage, Lower said.
The theft may have occurred sometime between March 13 and 15, Lower said, but police are hoping to narrow down that time frame. So far, Lower said there are no suspects or witnesses.
Anyone with information that may lead to suspects or the lost equipment can call the Olympia Police Department at 360-753-8300.
In the meantime, the nonprofit is asking the public for support through a GoFundMe fundraiser. As of Thursday afternoon, the non-profit had raised $6,255 from 73 people, which is 63% of its $10,000 goal.
The nonprofit also set up an Amazon registry where people can directly buy the organization replacement equipment. The list includes guitars, headphones, drums, amplifiers and other items.
When reached for comment, Williams said he and his staff felt incredibly moved by the outpouring support from the wider community.
"It's sad that it had to be under these circumstances, but there's a lot community love for us and that really shines through all of this," Williams said. "That gives us strength during this challenging time."
Williams said he started forming the The Bridge Music Project about 10 years ago and it officially became a non-profit in 2017. He said he got the idea for the project while sharing his passion for music with foster youth he supported in a previous job.
The project offers free music and songwriting lessons to young artists and is entirely funded through donations and grants, he said.
"Anyone can participate in our program, but we make extra efforts to include youth who have had major life challenges like foster care, homelessness and incarceration," Williams said.
As a grassroots non-profit, Williams said the recent theft hit them hard. Looking ahead, he said he wants to replace the lost equipment, improve security around their headquarters and continue on with their mission.
"We're resilient and we're going to keep pushing on," Williams said. "This hurts, but it's not devastating. We're going to keep doing our thing for the community here."
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