A ceiling collapse at a local American Legion has caused several entities to join together to help with making repairs and raise money to cover the costs that are not covered by insurance.

The American Legion Post 314 of Lehighton hopes to form The 44 Club to help offset the cost for the repairs to the banquet hall ceiling, said steward Susan Steager.

Steager said a portion of the drywall ceiling collapsed due to the age of the building about three weeks ago, and the banquet hall has been closed since. The bar and dining area remain open during this time.

“Our insurance carrier covered the part of the ceiling that collapsed,” Steager said. “Our engineer recommended that it be taken down.”

Steager said the entire ceiling has been taken down, and that the legion had the funds to take it out.

However, the organization is in need of help to be able to afford installing the new ceiling so banquets and other larger events could resume.

Steager said the legion has reached out to the Carbon County Commissioners, as well as the office of state Rep. Doyle Heffley.

“We applied for two grants,” she said. “We don’t want to take out a loan.”

Steager said a banquet was held the day before the ceiling caved in.

“It was a blessing that no one was in here when it had happened,” she said. “The banquet room has been shut down, which effects us drastically.”

Carbon County Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said Thursday that the demolition alone for the removal of the ceiling portion that didn’t come down was over $33,000, and projections for the replacement of the ceiling is another additional $35,000.

He noted that at this time, the organization isn’t sure what all of that cost the insurance company will cover.

The organization also has been working with local businesses and the Carbon County Builders Association, which has donated supplies and construction expertise.

“Any materials we can get donated would be greatly appreciated,” she said. “We hope to have it finished in about two weeks.”

Nothstein said that he has heard that one lumber company donated insulation, while some of the veterans who belong to the legion have donated time and funds for the project.

He added that the “Lehighton” mural by local artist Franz Kline was not damaged in the collapse. The mural is a replica of the original painting, which was purchased from the legion by the Allentown Art Museum in 2016.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner said he was there on Wednesday with a representative from Congresswoman Susan Wild’s office assessing the damage and both Heffley and state Sen. David Argall have reached out, as well as the county planning and development office.

Ahner added that a lot of members of the county builders association have donated their time to help cut costs on making the repairs.

“The builders association really stepped up,” he said. “They came in there and there was a bunch of contractors and they weren’t even worried about the money. They just wanted to get the process going.”

Steager said anyone who would like to make a donation to the legion may call 610-377-0511, or 570-386-5700.