A mental health charity in Co Derry was targeted by a group of young people who set fire to outdoor equipment over the weekend.
Staff at the charity S.T.E.P.S have thanked the local community for their warm response after the polytunnel and garden equipment were damaged in the fire.
In a Facebook post, S.T.E.P.S worker Karen McGuigan said: "In broad daylight a group broke into the polytunnel behind the soup kitchen and started a fire which destroyed all of S.T.E.P.S gardening equipment, tables, chairs and most importantly have melted a section of the tunnel.
"Had it not been for the quick actions of a local business man the whole thing would have went up which would have put other premises, houses and businesses at risk."
Almost immediately after Karen's Facebook post was put online, the local community were offering help and donations to help the charity recover what was lost.
Karen spoke to MyDerry about this warm reaction the charity received.
She said: "We would have no issue with the perpetrators coming in and using our facilities. It troubles me that they decided to set fire to a wheelie bin full of tools. I want to try and help young people and understand why they want to destroy things. Why couldn't they have come into the facility and sat and had some fun with their friends.
"It could have been so much worse. It was stopped very quickly. We wanted to develop the site into a memory garden but it had not been started yet. If we had lost that after it was finished we would have been devastated."
Almost immediately, the local community rallied around S.T.E.P.S to show their support.
Karen said: "The local response has been amazing. We had so many comments and messages come through, people that are living away. A man from the town originally but had moved away contacted us immediately with a £500 donation.
"People are so encouraging, they keep us going. They have helped us build from the start and how they are telling us to keep our heads up and not lose heart. We have been getting an amazing response.
"Because the community has reacted so strongly it will put out a message that damaging property won't be tolerated."
Karen made it clear that she does not hold ill will against those who started the fire, as they may not have known how much it could have gotten out of hand.
She said: "We would just love to be chatting to the young people and wanting to help them. If they have problems we want to help them rather than see them destroy things.
"We don't want this incident to tar all young people with the one brush. This is a very small minority. Young people have been great in helping us in all we do and we do not want to portray that all young people are causing issues."
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