Head chef of local charity burglarized while serving less fortunate

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COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – At almost any hour of the day you can find Head Chef Kris Jubinville running the kitchen at Saint Matthew’s House, giving free meals to people in need.

“Sometimes that takes getting here at 7 or 8 o’clock in the morning and working until 9 o’clock at night,” said Chef Jubinville.

On Monday, Jubinville spent a twelve hour day at work for the charity’s catering company. While he was helping people in need, someone else was helping him- or herself to his belongings.

Someone broke into the Bonita Springs home Jubinville shares with his wife near US 41 and Bonita Beach Road.

“When I got home, I noticed my back door had been jimmied open and left wide open,” said Jubinville. “My dogs were in the garage.”

Once the thieves got inside, they ransacked the house and stole about $12,000 worth of items including electronics, the couple’s wedding rings, even the family’s valuable family heirlooms.

“My wife’s grandmother just passed away and she had bequeathed to her a whole bunch of vintage jewelry,” said Jubinville.

The couple called the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to report the crime.  But, unlike most people who just lost $12,000 worth of belongings, Jubinville said the burglary didn’t make him angry or depressed, and it’s all because of what he’s witnessed working at Saint Matthew’s House.

“Now I know that it’s just stuff and I’m blessed to even have stuff like that, that can be taken,” said Jubinville. “It also just lets me know there’s still work to be done.”

Including many more twelve hour days in the charity’s kitchen.

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