Donation turns old firehouse in Lehigh Valley into gym for first responders | Northampton County

N. CATASAUQUA, Pa. – An old firehouse has been transformed into a gym for first responders, and all of the equipment was donated.

The building on Fourth Street in North Catasauqua is now filled with exercise equipment.

North Catasauqua Police Officer Samuel Safadi, also captain with the Catasauqua Fire Department, says he was was given the opportunity to turn the building into a gym last year, but coming up with the funding to fill the space was difficult.

“We looked around for equipment and at the time, we could not afford or find any equipment to help us out,” Safadi said.

When the YMCA’s Catasauqua branch closed in January, they decided to donate all of their equipment to their local heroes.

“When that phone call came, we were super shocked. We were expecting it to be a couple items, to kind of support us in the beginning of this journey, and then when they said we could have all of the equipment, we were absolutely surprised and overwhelmed,” Safadi said.

The gym is centrally located near police and fire headquarters.

It gives first responders a place to get together and better themselves so they can best serve the community.

“It’s time to give the local first responders a place to be able to work out and be healthier, to have a better mindset, to be able to help all the people,” Safadi said.