CATASAUQUA, Pa. — After vandals threatened a summer camp program in Catasauqua, the Borough says your donations have saved the day.
We spoke with Borough Manager Glenn Eckhart on Wednesday, who said the camp will be even better than last year thanks to generous people all across the Lehigh Valley chipping in to help. Eckhart said vandalism has cost them a lot this year.
“We’re at $12,000 right now, between time from public works and losses,” said Eckhart.
Eckhart said most of that was having to replace four picnic tables.
“Baseball bats were used to beat up the tables, and four of these were not able to be salvaged,” said Eckhart.
Then last week, somebody broke into the pool house and started a fire.
“So this is where the fire was lit,” said Eckhart, giving us a tour of the building.
The vandal put it out with a fire extinguisher, but the dust it produced destroyed a lot of camp supplies.
“We don’t have anything that we were able to salvage out of here. These shelves were all full with games and coloring books and paint and crayons,” said Eckhart.
Back at the office, Eckhart said he and his staff got an idea.
“Candace suggested hey, let’s put something on a press release just to see if anybody will bite to want to help, and clearly we got lots of help,” said Eckhart.
Help in the form of piles of camp supplies.
“Coloring books, games, glue, crayons,” said Eckhart.
Eckhart said, not only will the Borough have its free summer camp, but it will be better than last year. All thanks to donors across the Lehigh Valley.
“I just am so grateful for all the people in the Lehigh Valley who have donated to this cause,” said Eckhart.
Eckhart said they don’t need any more physical donations, but if you want to donate money, it will go toward the summer camp field trip fund. The Borough is still hiring camp counselors if anyone is interested. The free summer camp starts in Catasauqua Park on Monday.