HOUSTON – An organization that helps families and kids become healthy and spiritually strong was targeted by thieves.
Fighter Nation Boxing Gym in east Harris County, part of the Fellowship of the Nations Church, was broken into twice over the weekend.
The organization is now left picking up the pieces.
It’s a gym that serves two purposes, Christ and the community. It now needs help.
Late Saturday night, two men were caught on surveillance video breaking into the gym, then returning early Sunday morning to finish the job.
“We give these kids a place to come. We give them a place to rest, we give them a safe haven. And then when somebody damages that rapport or damages that thought, then we take it serious,” said the gym’s founder, Termite Watkins.
There is a long list of items that were taken or broken, including the gym’s audio system, a safe, t-shirt making equipment, a money box, plus tons of boxing equipment both old and new. The damage is estimated between $8,000 and $10,000.
“When people steal from us, it’s not from me, it’s from the kids. And, you know, we would, if you’re that person that stole this and you’re out there, we want you to come talk to us,” Watkins said.
Fighter Nation is not just a place to get in shape. It’s a neighborhood outreach program that offers competitive, amateur and professional boxing training, mixed martial arts, and youth fitness outreach programs to help keep kids off the streets and help them stand up for themselves.
“We give our our young folks a place to go after school. We give them a place to go that they’re not threatened, and we also teach them how to fight. I’m against, bullying. I speak in schools about bullying, and one of the best ways to stop bullying is to fight back,” Watkins said.
Fighter Nation is now working to replace what was taken, plus fix the damage left behind.
Fighter Nation is welcome to kids 8-years-old and up.
If you would like to help, you can drop donations off directly at the gym located on Woodforest Blvd. and Uvalde Road.