Boston Fire (Engine 8, Ladder 1) at 392 Hanover Street reported to Boston Police that an unknown person stole the charity “Fire Boot” and associated lock box from in front of the station.
The longstanding “Fill the Boot” collection supports the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). The incident is believed to have occurred early on Friday between midnight and 6:00 am.
The fire boot and empty lock box was found floating in the water fountain on the Prado / Paul Revere Mall. An unknown amount of money was missing from the lock box that was found destroyed.
Let’s rally for the station and those with Muscular Dystrophy to raise more awareness and fundraising the rest of the year. Perhaps set a new donation goal for that station.
Leaving a boot or a box full of cash anywhere between “12am and midnight” is pretty dumb. I love and support the cause but my donations go to a secure website where I actually get the tax benefits. Not into a civil servant’s shoe in cash.
That’s right dynez, blame the BFD AND NOT THE THIEF.
Are you serious? They left a box of cash outside on the sidewalk on Hanover street. You think they’re without blame? Do you leave cash on your doorstep?
It goes without saying that the thief is a total *&^$#^)!, but come on, son. Have some common sense. Just because they put out fires doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be responsible with cash donations.
The station had Always left that boot out and no one has ever stolen it until now!!!!! What has this place become!!! A cesspool for the ignorant !!
Was this theft reported to the Police ?? Fingerprints found ??? I know~~I watch too many episodes of CSI !!!
Janet.
Yes it was reported to the police.(it is in the latest police blotter) The boot and box were found floating in the fountain on the Prado.
If you think the BPD would give this incident fingerprint identification priority with all the shootings that have happened in the city these past few days…IF it was checked for fingerprints at all…then I think maybe you have been watching too many episodes of CSI. 🙂
If only crime solving worked that quickly in real life!
Hopefully surveillance cameras will give them a lead.
Irregardless of wanting to selfishly want tax benefits from doing a true GENUINE donation, I believe it to be prudent of those of us who want to genuinely make a helpful and selfless donation, we can simply walk by the fire station and make a donation to help out… I’m sure that whoever stole this will have karma on their side eventually… let’s pull together here because we truly want to help, not because we selfishly want more $$ for ourselves through a tax deduction….
As a financial advisor I can tell you that cash donations NEVER EVER make sense. There are 2 main benefits of making charitable donations by check or online.
A) The money goes where you want it to go. It’s traceable. Cash is not and can be easily stolen – especially if it’s left on the sidewalk overnight.
B) Most importantly, are the tax benefits. The tax deductibility of the donation provides you the opportunity to GIVE MORE, while paying the same amount out of pocket.
Let me explain:
If you’re in the 25% federal tax bracket and 5% for mass state income tax, the tax you pay on your income is 30%. By properly documenting the donation you make(by using a check or card), you can give the organization 30% more than you would in cash, while it costs you the same after the deduction. For every dollar in cash you donate, you would be recklessly leaving 30 cents on the table. Why? so you can stick your hand in a boot? Does THAT make you “feel good about yourself”?
The MD organization would much rather receive a check for $130 than $100 in cash and it costs you the exact same amount in this scenario.
I’m also a financial planner – I agree with this post. I’ve often wondered what the accounting was behind the highly visible cash donations in the North End. The statues draped in cash during the feasts for instance. If the donations behind those dollars are not being deducted for tax purposes, the donors are doing the nonprofit a disservice. Write a check for more money than you would give in cash based on your tax bracket.
If you really care about a Saint, society, club or whatnot, understand the tax law and write them a check. If you just want to give to them so that you can be seen giving to them, and don’t really care about what they do with the money, then sure – tape a bunch of cash together and place it on a statue. Don’t take my word for it – ask any CPA about cash gifting to nonprofit organizations.
I understand there’s tradition behind this and I respect that. But it doesn’t make any sense from a tax or charitable giving standpoint.
So sad. Just not right!!
The neighborhood has been dealing with a lot of crime. Homeless people and/or drug addicts
went into our churches and robbed whatever money the church had in poor boxes, which are
basically made of a strong metal, but they managed to break into them.
Our lives are in the hands of the politicians and the police dept. and we can only hope and pray that
we have much better protection than we have now.
I believe in miracles and it is going to take one hell of a miracle to help this neighborhood, sad, but
true.
Cameras are an absolute MUST everywhere in the neighborhood.