Glass crashed as vandals destroyed windows on all three of the Cobre Valley Youth Club vehicles this week.

Staff and volunteers reacted in anger and sadness as they surveyed the damage and discussed the ramifications of the crime.

The anger came from the senselessness of the act, and the sadness because whoever destroyed the windows either doesn’t know or doesn’t care that the Club operates to help them.

Staff had to call three schools to let parents know they would have to make arrangements to pick up their children, as the vehicles were incapacitated.

“I felt like I had no words to describe how upset I am about this crime,” Aimee Staten, executive director of the Youth Club, said. “But the more I thought about it, the more I realized this event proves just how much we need a safe, positive place for youths and teens to gather.”

Since the perpetrators have not been caught, the Club doesn’t know whether the crime was committed by adults or juveniles.

“The thing is, everything we do here is to help young people learn how to be their best selves in addition to freeing their parents to make a living,” Staten said. “You would think people — even young people — would appreciate that.”

The Club depends completely on grants and donations from local businesses and individuals. It does not receive any federal or state government subsidies like most charitable nonprofits that offer such desperately needed services to families. This is true of most – if not all – such after-school programs.

“Sadly, despite our best efforts, our Club operates in the red just about every month,” Staten said.

In an effort to keep expenses as low as possible for parents so they can work and make ends meet for their families, the Club charges the following rates:

Annual membership per member: $25;

Monthly charge for individual: $30; and,

Monthly charge for family up to five kids: $50.

“The cost to repair the damage will have to come from other programs we offer that are still desperately needed,” Board Secretary Mickie Nye said.

The Club offers two mentorship and character programs – Matters of the Heart and Camp Boost — to different age groups in addition to homework help and tutoring, STEM, art, food science and Get Fit.

“I think this outlines how badly this community needs a place for its youth, and although the attack was senseless, we won’t give up on our mission of creating a safe place for the youth of our community,” Board Vice-Chair Matt Storms said.

The Globe Police Department responded to the scene.

The Club is in the process of getting a much larger building with property and room to grow to accommodate its nearly 200 members.

It also plans to open a Teen Center in the future and has a gymnasium built into its five-year plan.

“Though I am saddened by this criminal act, I am not disheartened,” said Jesse Leetham, newly elected Globe City Councilmember and Club board member. “I am grateful that we have a community of amazing individuals such as Aimee, our Youth Club director, and her staff for continuing to help our youth. This is an example of why our community needs a Youth Club — to keep our youth from making mistakes that could harm their futures.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Globe Police at 928-425-5751.

To contribute to the Youth Club, go to www.cobrevalleyyouthclub.com. To become a mentor or make a donation, call 928-793-3926. All volunteers and staff must be able to pass a national background check.