DOWAGIAC — A local organization was robbed of money that was to go to charity Monday morning.

The Dowagiac Moose Lodge 933 548671 M-51 N., Dowagiac, was broken into around 2 a.m. Monday and robbed of cash, including more than $300 that was to be donated to the Cass County Cancer Service.

“It’s a big shock, especially in this area, for something like this to happen,” said Bob Staley, administrator of the Moose Lodge. “But luckily, only a few bucks that weren’t locked away in the safe was all they could get.”

The thief tripped the alarm system at the Moose Lodge, which alerted police to the break-in. The thief was gone by the time the police arrived.

The culprit gained access to the Moose Lodge by using a crowbar to create a hole in the wall of the building. The crowbar was left behind at the scene, according to Staley. The hole is currently covered, and will soon be properly fixed, Staley said.

The money that was taken belonged to the Moose Riders, an activity committee at the Moose Lodge, that had been raising money for some time to donate to the Cass County Cancer Service, a nonprofit organization that aids people going through cancer treatments.

To help re-raise money for the Cass County Cancer Service, Staley said the Moose Riders will be hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Moose Lodge.

“Hopefully, that will help recoup that loss,” Staley said.

The Dowagiac Eagles have already contributed $100 to the cause, something Staley called “incredibly generous.”

Staley said no one at the Moose Lodge has any idea who the robber could be.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is working on the case.