Members of the Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre are “devastated” after they say musical instruments and equipment were found to be missing following a break-in on Monday.

Executive director Sarah Patrick said a neighbour contacted the centre’s organizers Monday to say they had found a side entrance to the centre ajar and a window smashed.

When Patrick entered, she said she found several of the centre’s portable instruments — including guitars, violins and flutes — as well as a TV screen and sound equipment were gone.

Patrick estimates the total value of the stolen items are in the tens of thousands of dollars — “possibly over $20,000.”

She says the centre is insured but isn’t sure how much is covered.

“This is really, really horrible,” Patrick said. “We have money problems already, and this just makes it worse.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money to replace the instruments.

The Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre is a registered charity that offers kids free one-on-one music lessons they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford. The centre offers lessons in piano, violin, guitar, saxophone, flute and drums.

Patrick said she notified police after the break-in and is in the process of filing a report.

Toronto police would not confirm if they received a call from the centre.

The centre is in the midst of preparing for its 40th anniversary in September, said Peggy Weir, president of the charity’s board of directors.

“We had plans for the anniversary and now we’ll have to scramble,” Weir said.

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The centre will have to find new instruments in time for music lessons that begin in September as well, she added.

“I’m sure we’ll get through this, but it’s really stressful to deal with this,” Patrick said.