A thief was caught on camera stealing a money jug that supports area schools.

The jug was stolen Monday afternoon from the Bar-B-Cutie in Donelson.

The thief only got away with about $30, but the restaurant’s manager told News 2 every little bit helps further the children’s future.

“We try very hard to support our community,” Bar-B-Cutie General Manager Terri Tomlin said.

The locally owned restaurant has been giving back to the community since opening more than 25 years ago.

“We work closely with feeding the hungry, helping our police, helping our elementary schools, giving back to them and organizations within the area,” said Tomlin.

She told News 2 about three years ago the restaurant started supporting Donelson Middle School, Hickman Elementary and McGavock High School.

“We’ve been collecting receipts for Donelson, Hickman Elementary and McGavock band. They get 10 percent back from the profits of those receipts, and then also our customers put change in there, money in there and that helps them buy supplies and things that they don’t normally get the funds for.”

Cameras though caught a man Monday afternoon stealing the money jug for Donelson Middle and Hickman Elementary.

“He grabbed the jug and left the building. It’s a shame that they would just even do that because that is going back to the children in our community,” explained Tomlin.

Dr. Kim Fowler at Hickman Elementary told News 2 Bar-B-Cutie gives them several hundred dollars a year.

“We use a lot of those donations type accounts to help us with things that are not quote instructional,” said Fowler.

It’s money she said that is often used for necessities like undergarments and socks for the children.

The restaurant was also hit by crime Sunday when a customer passed on a counterfeit $100 bill.

“It’s hard, it’s hard for the community. Donelson is such a growing area we want to see it progress and we are working, everybody is working hard in the community to make Donelson a better place so when people are out doing stuff like this it makes it hard on everyone,” explained Tomlin.

If you have any information on either crime, call our partners at Crime Stoppers 615-74-CRIME.

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