Jackie Phillips with the American Red Cross in Selma had been out for a few days sick. What her staff found Monday could only have made her feel even worse.

Sometime over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Phillips said, someone kicked in the back door of the agency’s Selma Avenue office and proceeded to remove just about everything electronic.

“They took everything. They took laptops, desktops, a flat-screen television, another television with a DVD player built-in we use for training,” Phillips said running through the list of missing items. “We are pretty much paralyzed.”

Although finding those responsible would be nice for Phillips and her staff, more important items stand in the way. First and foremost is being able to serve the community if and when the Red Cross is called upon.

“We are pretty much paralyzed right now,” Phillips said. “We have two laptops that we have borrowed that we are able to do some things on, but if the storm that came through Tuesday had caused any damage, we would not have been able to help those in need.”

The nonprofit, already strapped for funding after a busy September and October with a number of house fires in the area, is coming into the month already $10,000 under budget and in no position to replace the estimated $7,000 in stolen equipment.

“We are sending out a plea for help to the community,” Phillips said. “We need their help. If only a $5 donation would be helpful in getting us back.”

On a national, even statewide scale, the loss is not enough, Phillips said, for the national or statewide Red Cross organization to help, leaving the local agency to seek assistance from area residents.

“Donations that are made are tax-deductible and would go to getting us back on our feet,” Phillips said.

Those interested in donating can call the local American Red Cross at (334) 874-4641 or can mail in a donation to American Red Cross, P.O. Box 652, Selma, Ala. 36702. The Red Cross’ office is open Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.