Someone broke into a place that exists to help people exactly like him.

Lavan Hickman, 38, was arrested for burglarizing the North Gwinnett Cooperative in Buford — a nonprofit food pantry and assistance center that’s been helping struggling families in the Gwinnett area for over 30 years.

The catch? Hickman was supposed to be on work release, getting a second chance while serving time for previous burglary convictions.

What He Targeted

The North Gwinnett Cooperative isn’t your typical business. Founded in 1991 by Sugar Hill United Methodist Church, it’s a ministry that provides food, clothing, financial assistance and spiritual support to people in need across Buford, Suwanee, and Sugar Hill.

This is the kind of place that keeps families fed when paychecks don’t stretch far enough. It

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