The flood that hit Confluence on Monday did not spare the Confluence Creative Arts Center. Its basement took on nearly two feet of water.
The Confluence volunteer fire company came and pumped it out, but the water left a mess behind. Doors, fans, humidifiers, appliances, art supplies, and stacks of wood and fabric were damaged or ruined. The basement needs a deep cleaning and treatment for water damage, along with work on the drainage and pump so it is less likely to happen again.
There was one bit of luck in the timing. The water came after a full month of Eco-Art Camp and Theater Camp, when the building had been packed with kids. A few weeks earlier and the flood would have washed out a summer’s worth of programming.
If you have been to a concert, an art class, a play, or the free family pumpkin carving at Pumpkinfest, you know what the Arts Center means to this town. Ben, Jay and Jody and everyone there keep the doors open for kids and adults alike, year round, on a shoestring and a lot of heart. This is a place that gives, and now it needs a little giving back.
Jody Best has set up a fundraiser, called “A lot of water, a lot of heART,” to cover the repairs, replace what was ruined, and make the building more flood-resistant going forward. The goal is $11,000, and the community has already started stepping up. You can donate through the GoFundMe page, or reach out to the Arts Center directly at confluencecreativearts.org.
The Arts Center already has its eye on what is next: Art in the Park on August 29, a new season of fall classes, and Pumpkinfest after that. It will take more than a flooded basement to slow this place down. To Ben, to Jody, and to everyone at the CCAC, thank you for all you do for this town. Let’s help them dry out.