Sometime Monday morning, all of the toys Iota Sigma Pi honor society had gathered for charity disappeared.

Amie Yang, graduate student in chemistry, said the gifts, about six or seven toys worth about $30, were taken between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Monday. The gifts and food were being collected for needy families in Iowa.

“It’s really such a shame,” said Carlene Enderson, a clerk in the chemistry office. “Money is very tight for these families.”

Two boxes decorated in red tinsel — one for food and the other for gifts — sat inside the chemistry office in Gilman Hall Tuesday for children and families in need this holiday season.

The stolen donations included Lego building blocks, drawing books, arts and crafts and other toys, Yang said.

“The only thing that we hope is that it was taken by someone who actually needed the item,” said Meera Desai, president of National Honor Society for women in chemistry and graduate student in chemistry.

The boxes were moved from the unwatched hallway into the main chemistry office where two secretaries sit for security purposes after the toys disappeared.

The gifts collected were to be given to the Story County Volunteer Center’s Season of Giving program.

“We thought it would be a nice way to help out during the holiday season,” Yang said.

Yang said the incident was not reported to police because of the lack of information known Tuesday and the low dollar amount of the items stolen.

Cmdr. Jim Robinson of the Ames Police Department said few thefts involving charity are reported. He said occasionally reports from Goodwill and the Salvation Army are made involving someone looking through boxes left in an alley.

ISU Police said they are not aware of any other charity thefts this year.

Both Yang and Desai said they relied on the goodness of students and staff to help out.

“If it was a prank, please don’t throw [the stolen toys] out,” Yang said. “Please donate it. Just don’t trash it.”