A donation jar containing more than $200 for the family of a teenage girl battling leukemia was stolen from a bakery in central Cambridge.

Azores Bakery manager Lucia Sousa says the jar was taken Jan. 31, although she didn’t realize it until the following day.

Reviewing surveillance camera footage, she discovered that a man had stuffed the jar into his jacket after making a purchase at the shop.

“We’re trying to do a good deed for a family in need, and this guy just comes in and takes it,” Sousa said.

The jar had been brought in by one of the bakery’s suppliers, as the daughter of their sales rep, Nelson Costa, is fighting cancer.

It contained a picture of 14-year-old Nicole, as well as a description of what the money was going toward.

“We just wanted to help,” Sousa said.

“What his family’s going through … no family wants to go through.”

Nelson Costa said he was shocked when he heard the donations had been stolen.

“I was surprised. How could someone do that?” Costa said.

Nicole found the theft rude considering what she’s going through.

“I felt kind of disgusted by their act,” she said.

She recently finished treatment for leukemia in hospital, and will now stay at home and receive care at a clinic.

The donations were meant to help with the medication Nicole has to take.

“Medication is very expensive and she will have to take those pills, and medication for rest of her life,” said Nelson.

The family has a history of helping Sick Kids Hospital and has already discussed giving some of the funds raised for them to the hospital.

The Costa family is grateful for the support from the community, especially Nicole.

“I liked how they were all supporting me, because I didn’t think I would get that much support,” she said.

Waterloo Regional Police are investigating the theft. They say the man who stole the jar is white and likely in his 20s, with dark hair.

“We are looking for more information on who that individual is,” said police spokesperson Alana Russell.

Anyone with information is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.

With reporting by Nicole Lampa