PHOENIXVILLE, PA — Last month’s concert in Phoenixville to raise money victims of Hurricane Ida in the area, including along the canal in Mont Clare, brought in nearly $45,000, organizers announced on Monday.
The event, hosted at the Colonial Theatre, was put together in a rush over a period of two weeks by local businesses and organizations.
“It was amazing to see communities on both sizes of the river come together for a real tangible cause,” Schuylkill Canal Association spokesperson Betsy Daley said in a statement. “The damage to homes was very visible and our neighbors and friends were hurting.”
Mont Clare, along with nearby Port Providence, were devasated by the historic storm, which saw fast moving floodwaters sweep through the riverside communities and devastate homes, roads, power lines, vehicles, and other infrastructure.
Many residents in the area continued to struggle for weeks afterwords with basic necessities like running water and bathrooms.
“It’s gratifying that we could do a little something to financially help,” VFC President, Todd Palmer said in a statement. “But what seems just as valuable was providing people who had been dealing with water and mud for weeks with a meaningful evening, allowing them to share their stories and to take a breath.”
Local musician Corey Reid, a former resident of Mont Clare, hatched the plan for the concert before the flood had even begun to recede. Reid works as a sales manager for Sly Fox Brewing Company, and had no trouble garnering their support, along with VFC, the Colonial Theatre, Budget Maintenance Emergency Services, and the Schuylkill Canal Association.
Other local breweries also donated beer for the event, and “every drop was sold,” organizers said. In addition to Sly Fox, Root Down, Stable 12, Hares Hill, and Rebel Hill all made donations.
Phoenixville Mayor Peter Urscheler also organized the silent auction in the Colonial Theatre lobby.
The funds donated through the concert will be administered by Open Hearth, a nonprofit aid organization in Chester County.
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