
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 24, 1994                   TAG: 9407250073
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CHILDREN'S CENTER HIT BY BURGLARY

Roanoke's West End Center for Children, already fighting to stay alive financially, was burglarized early Friday.

According to Roanoke police, the burglar apparently entered through a vent and ransacked the center. Police still await a list of items stolen, though they noted that the burglar took items that were not as valuable as some items that were left.

The center at 13th Street and Patterson Avenue is a nonprofit after-school program that offers activities, field trips and tutoring to youths in the mostly low-income and working-class area in which it is located.

The center moved to Patterson Avenue in April 1993 and expanded its enrollment. As recently as January, director Kaye Hale told the Roanoke Times & World-News that the center was under financial strain because of the expansion.

A rush of donations early in the year helped, Hale said, but the center still had to cut enrollment.

by CNB