Community Comes Out for Concert for Canal Relief
Locals Band Together to Raise Funds for Flood Stricken
November 22, 2021 — Phoenixville, PA —On Tuesday, October 26, Phoenixville’s beloved Colonial Theatre hosted the Concert for Canal Relief, a program organized by several local businesses and organizations to raise funds for flood victims across the river in Montgomery County. The event, which came together in less than two weeks, exceeded expectations raising nearly $45,000.
Chester County’s Borough of Phoenixville shares a special relationship with the communities hardest hit by Hurricane Ida, Mont Clare and Port Providence, Pennsylvania. The fast-moving flood event of September 1 transformed lives and households in the canal communities within a matter of hours and many are still experiencing the effects of that traumatic event.
The idea for the concert was hatched before the flood waters receded by local musician Corey Reid. A current Phoenixville resident Reid had lived along the canal in Mont Clare on Walnut Street for 5 years and knew many of those affected.
Sales Manager for the popular regional craft brewery Sly Fox Brewing Company– a business famous for their community support– Reid enlisted his employer’s support as well as that of their marketing partner, VFC, Inc., also in Phoenixville. Sly Fox, VFC, The Colonial Theatre and the Schuylkill Canal Association all joined forces to plan and promote the concert just a few weeks after the flood.
“It was amazing to see communities on both sizes of the river come together for a real tangible cause,” said Schuylkill Canal Association spokesperson Betsy Daley. “The damage to homes was very visible and our neighbors and friends were hurting.”
The concert featured local and regional favorite musical acts including The Holts, Cliff Hillis, Ben Arnold and The Mighty Manatees, all of whom donated their talents. A number of local breweries including Sly Fox, Root Down , Stable 12 , Hares Hill , and Rebel Hill donated beer for the weekday event and every drop was sold.
Businesses like Budget Maintenance Emergency Services and VFC, Inc. made cash donations while other businesses donated raffle items to contribute to the total amount raised. Phoenixville’s Mayor Peter Urscheler organized the silent auction in a Colonial Theatre lobby that was abuzz with hope and positivity before, during and after the concert.
“It’s gratifying that we could do a little something to financially help,” said VFC President, Todd Palmer who also emceed the event. “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.”
On November 19 concert organizers presented a check in the amount of $44,936.00 to Open Hearth , the organization that will administer the funds to those who need it most.
—————
On November 19 Concert for Canal Relief organizers presented a check for $44,936.00 to Open Hearth who will administer the funds to flood stricken residents of Mont Clare and Port Providence. Pictured at the Route 29 bridge connecting Phoenixville with the flooded communities are (L-R) concert raffle committee members Sonja Wheelan, Jim Neithammer , Ruth Dombroski and Carole Setzler; VFC,Inc. president, Todd Palmer; SCA President, Chris Zeliznak; Sly Fox Brewing Company Sales Manager, Corey Reid; Keystone Land and Sea owner, Tim Swavely; SCA Treasurer, Betsy Daley; and Colonial Theatre – Interim Executive Director, Janice Hartmann.
