MASSILLON, Ohio — The Sturm family has a special place in their hearts for Christmas. They go all out with at least a couple hundred-thousand lights draped across the house and front lawn and decorations galore.
"We love Christmas a lot," Victoria Sturm said. "It brings everyone so much joy."
Because their over-the-top display gets so much attention, they started raising money to help others.
This year, they choose to donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital after 11-year-old Victoria wrote a touching essay about the organization for school.
"It makes me feel really good about myself that I'm helping God give gifts to children that are suffering," Victoria said.
But thieves tried to dampen their Christmas spirit.
"Looked everywhere, couldn't find it and I knew it had been stolen," Victoria's dad, Greg Sturm, said.
Their donation box that sat right on the front lawn was stolen three times. They estimate the thieves got away with around $700.
"My wife, my kids, we put all this effort into this and somebody could come and steal that box, it's just really disheartening," Greg said.
Greg said they usually get a couple hundred bucks each night but because of the reoccurring thefts, they can't put the box out anymore.
The Massillon community has been stepping up to try and replenish what was taken by hand delivering their donations.
Next year, Greg said he'll be ready for potential theives.
"I'm going to actually purchase a Fort Knox mailbox and probably going to brick all around it and then I'm also going to put out some security cameras," Greg said.
Despite it all, this family isn't letting go of their Christmas spirit.
"We just love Christmas," Greg said. "We love the season and spreading the true meaning of Christmas."
