WOLCOTT, N.Y. — The Elks Lodge in Wolcott is asking for the community’s help after State Police say Village Justice David Miller, a member of the lodge, stole over $9,498 in lottery tickets from a machine while working there.
Miller won $4,164 but the remaining $5,334 wasn’t paid back, leaving the lodge to cover the cost.
Lodge leaders say they’re facing a tough financial decision as this is usually the time of year when they give back to the community.
They’ve previously sponsored local baseball fields and donated clothes to veterans.
“This is the time of year when we start taking collections for things for the veterans. Socks, shirts, shoes, slippers, all those kinds of things,” said Cheryl Garlock, exalted ruler of the lodge. “In the past, we’ve been able to go out and do a lot of that purchasing ourselves. And our members have been able to donate things. We don’t have that ability [this year], where we are strictly relying on people donating because we don’t have the funds to go out and buy things.”
News10NBC reached out to Miller for comment but hasn’t heard back.
The lodge is accepting donations to help cover the cost of the stolen lottery tickets and continue their community outreach efforts. You can contact it via email at cgarlock340@yahoo.com.