WATERVILLE -- Sam Shapiro usually is heartened by the generosity of people who stop by his vegetable stand to give money for cancer care and children's activities.

For three years he has sold home-grown produce at his home on Pray Avenue to raise money for the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care, in Augusta, and the Waterville Area Boys & Girls Club at the Alfond Youth Center here.

But lately, thieves have been stealing his tomatoes, high-bush blueberries and other produce, or leaving less money than his prices stipulate.

He sells the blueberries for $3 a pint and tomatoes for $2.50 a pound.

"A man in a beige new 2008 car, beautifully dressed with a nice haircut, probably in his 50s, drove up, put a bill in the box, took blueberries and took off," Shapiro, 81, said Thursday. "He left $1 in the box and the blueberries are $3."

Some people are very kind and leave more than enough money because they know it goes to a good cause, said Shapiro, a former state treasurer.

"But lately, people have been stealing my blueberries. I saw one of them the other day take three tomatoes and drive off," he said.

Shapiro doesn't man the vegetable stand all the time; rather, he works on the honor system whereby he lets customers weigh the produce and leave their money in a special box.

Two years ago he raised $1,280 and last year, $1,370.

"This year I'm already up to about $900," he said.

Shapiro likens the thefts to stealing from cancer patients. He has tended the large garden behind his house off Mayflower Hill Drive for more than 40 years.

Amy Calder -- 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com