The sale of Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic’s jersey might have raised money to feed dozens of hungry children.
Now the jersey’s probably headed for eBay.
Sakic’s autographed uniform was one of several items set to be auctioned off next month by the Food Bank of the Rockies at the Joe Sakic Celebrity Bash to help raise money for the Children’s Nutrition Network.
But it, along with all the other items, were stolen from the Food Bank’s offices when it was moving facilities last weekend.
An autographed Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers football, two round-trip tickets on Frontier Airlines and several autographed sports jerseys were among the stolen items.
“That is the only box we are missing out of everything we moved,” said Food Bank marketing director Debi Garrity. “There were tears.”
The group auctioned off similar items last year, Garrity said, and raised nearly $25,000, enough for 112,500 meals.
But with a little more than three weeks before auction day, all the Food Bank has left to sell is an autographed picture and book from Broncos cornerback Domonique Foxworth.
The crime is still unsolved, according to Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson.
Sakic could not be reached for comment Thursday, but Avalanche spokesman Jean Martineau said the team would work to replace as many of the items as it could.
“It’s very unfortunate,” Martineau said. “I’m sure (Joe) would say the same thing.”
Donations to the bank can be made by calling Kristina Cordova at 303-371-9250, ext. 238, or by e-mailing her at kcordova@foodbankrockies.org.
Staff writer Alicia P.Q. Wittmeyer can be reached at 303-820-1316 or awittmeyer@denverpost.com.
