We try to take a civil attitude toward most things and are reluctant to allow letter writers or ourselves to engage in name calling. Today, we break the rule, make the exception.

Whoever stole the snowplow from the Good Shepherd Food Bank’s parking lot in Auburn on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving is scum. S-C-U-M.

Good Shepherd’s mission is to help needy people eat. Last year, it handed out more than 9 million pounds of food, and in the wake of Hurricane Katrina sent six tractor trailers loaded with food and water to the Gulf Coast.

Such a callous disregard for others is unconscionable.

The snowplow would have saved the food bank money on snow removal, allowing it to put more resources toward its mission.

Imagine, a crook so dastardly he or she would take food from the mouths of others during the holidays. Scum.

But the community can help undo the damage. Contact Good Shepherd at P.O. Box 1807, Auburn, ME 04211-1807 or 782-3554 if you can help.