A public meeting will be held Wednesday at the American Legion Post 314 of Lehighton to discuss raising funds for a collapsed ceiling.

Brandy Gruszka, the Legion’s finance officer, said the meeting is at 6 p.m. in the lower banquet hall after a ceiling collapse earlier this month.

“It’s for those who want to see the legion succeed, stay in the community,” Gruszka said. “We’ll be presenting at that time a program we want to establish that will help raise money for the ceiling.

“And then other areas in the community; whatever the need within the community is.”

Gruszka said the program will be called The 44 Club, “because we need $44,000” (to do the work).

“Everybody is invited to see if they want to be a member of the club for the immediate need of the Legion and the needs within the community thereafter,” she said.

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

Steager said the legion’s insurance carrier covered the part of the ceiling that collapsed, and added its engineer recommended that it be taken down.

She 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 afford installing the new ceiling so banquets and other larger events can resume.

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

She said they applied for two grants, and added they don’t want to take out a loan.

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

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 more than $33,000, and projections for the replacement of the ceiling is another additional $35,000.

He said 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.

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.

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