GoFundMe Page Setup To Aid Holmesburg Boys Club Following Storm Damage
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Damaging storms ripped through the area earlier this week. Falling trees and high-speed winds caused damage to homes and businesses throughout the region.
Chopper 3 was over the scene of the Holmesburg Boys Club, in Northeast Philadelphia, where part of the roof was ripped off.
STORM DAMAGE THROUGHOUT THE REGION
Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the damage to a building that many young people lean on, has left an impact on the community.
A GoFundMe Page has been setup to help the Holmesburg Boys Club during the club's time of need. The page was setup by Rodney Stahl, the club's Hockey Director. He has served in that role for the last two years and has volunteered at the club for the last five.
Stahl received a call from a friend that has parents who live right across the street from the club. "He told me that his father was trying to contact me in regards to the roof coming off of the club," Stahl told CBSPhilly.com. "I arrived about 20 minutes later, to just a devastating sight."
The sight was the part of the roof which was missing -- a roof that was not very old at all. "There was two-thirds of our year old roof missing, having peeled back like a sardine can and landing in our back yard," Stahl described.
He walked in to find water pouring into the building and puddling up on the floor.
The funding goal for the page is $50,000 and as of shortly after 9:00 p.m. on Thursday night, it had reached $8,671 in donations since being created on Tuesday.
"We are currently working on getting the funding to replace the roof, as well as the floor," Stahl said.
While the money will certainly help, the helping hand of the community is something that Stahl also values.
"The community has been great, stopping in to help with clean up efforts," Stahl said. "Holmesburg has meant a lot to the community, giving the children a safe place to play, learn, and grow. I know I can speak on behalf of my three boys, who play hockey here, that they love it here. I know many children who feel the same. We have some of the best children come through here on their path to becoming an adult. Once you're part of the HBC family, you're family for life," Stahl said.
