The Grinch Who Tried to Steal Christmas in Downtown Ashland — But the Community May Have the Final Word
ASHLAND — In a season meant for goodwill, generosity, and helping those in need, a real-life Grinch paid a visit to downtown Ashland — and his timing couldn’t have been worse.
Sometime around 11:42 p.m. Friday night, Dec. 12, thieves smashed their way into Diamond Shine Nails, 48 W. Main St., shattering a large front window and heading straight for the cash register. Ashland Police Division detectives were called to the scene of the overnight break-in, which left behind broken glass, damage to the business — and a heartbreaking loss far greater than cash.
While an undetermined amount of register money was taken, what hurt most was the theft of $623 raised through a holiday raffle — money that was never meant for the business at all.
That money was destined for a single mother with five young boys, a local Ashland family still reeling from hardship, including a recent house fire.
“This is something we do every year,” said Saionara Frederick, owner of Diamond Shine Nails, who has operated her downtown business for nearly four years. “We always try to help a family in need. I know what it’s like to struggle, and if I can help someone else, I will.”
Each Christmas, Frederick and her staff assemble raffle baskets and quietly work through local schools or community connections to identify families who need help the most. In past years, the effort has helped Ashland High School students and their families. This year, her heart was drawn to a mother raising five boys on her own.
“The mom doesn’t even know we’re doing this,” Frederick said. “We keep it a surprise and drop it off the week before Christmas.”
But that surprise may have been stolen — literally.
Suspects smashed through the front window, broke a glass table, ripped the cash register from its place, and fled back out the same way they came in. In addition to the family’s raffle money, another raffle fund — being collected by an employee for a church missions trip — was also taken.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Frederick said. “Not just for me, but for the family, and for my employee.”
Yet even as the Grinch slipped into the night, he may have underestimated one thing: Ashland’s heart.
Instead of allowing the theft to cancel Christmas for this family, Frederick is opening her doors to the community.
Anyone who wishes to help can stop by Diamond Shine Nails and donate directly to help replace the stolen funds and ensure the family still receives their Christmas blessing.
“Oh, definitely,” Frederick said when asked if the gift will still happen. “We’re still doing this.”
Ashland Police Division detectives continue to investigate the break-in. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Ashland Police Division.
As for the Grinch who tried to steal Christmas in downtown Ashland — this may be one holiday story where kindness, community, and compassion grow three sizes bigger and prove once again that Ashland truly is someplace special.
