It’s difficult to envision the person who would break into someone’s home or business and steal what they’ve worked so hard to amass. But it’s unfathomable to imagine another human being cold-hearted enough to break into a place, such as the Sampson Center, and walk away with toys being stored up as Christmas surprises for the county’s needy children.

Yet that’s exactly what happened last month when someone decided it was OK to steal from the center, and that it wasn’t a problem to take donated gifts just because they were there.

How stupid can one be? How heartless?

Apparently very.

What the theft has done, beyond the obvious, is left one of the most giving of programs short the gifts needed for youngsters throughout the area who will likely have to do without this holiday season.

It’s more than a shame for children, no matter the economic state they find their families in, waking up on Christmas morning to find nothing under their tree. Imagine the heartbreak.

And it will be simply because of a despicable act by a selfish individual with no thought of how their act will impact someone else.

While it may be likely the suspect in the Sampson Center theft may be caught, it’s doubtful the toys will ever be seen again, and that means the center is in need of our help.

We can only hope there will be those around us who find it in their hearts to contribute something to a very worthy cause.

No question the economy has left all of us a little lighter in the wallet this holiday season, but most of us still have warm clothes, plenty of food and extra money to spend on any number of things.

It would be nice if those of us who have been that fortunate this year would return some of those blessings to others, starting with the Toys for Tots program.

Without question, it is a great program that has, for years, provided thousands of gifts to children during this most special time of the year a time of year when, really, giving should be the order of the day.

This year, as we begin our gift-buying for family and friends, let’s not forget those less fortunate, particularly children. After all, wouldn’t it be nice if we could bring the excited light to a child’s eyes this Christmas? Wouldn’t it be one of the best gifts we could give and one of the best we could receive?