LOWELL, Mich. – Volunteers are needed to help cleanup and replace what was damaged by the flood waters at the Kent County Fairgrounds in Lowell.
Normally, this is the time of year when Jessica Marks, one of two part-time employees, takes applications from people looking to get involved in the Kent County Youth Fair. But since the office has been destroyed in the flood, applications will have to wait as more pressing matters are tended to.
“We need as much help as possible if we want to have the fair up and running this year,” said Marks.
The flood covered the grounds under more than two feet of water and washed away the flooring in the stable in addition to the sand and clay in the horse arena, all of which will need to be replaced.
“In the horse area, they have about $40,000 worth of damage,” Marks said. Total damage is estimated at about $75,000.
Last year the fairgrounds were open by mid-May. Marks said that simply wouldn’t have been possible this year. “We don’t even have our water on yet, because they had to come out and chlorinate everything and make sure the tests come back positive.”
Which is one reason they are calling for help.
This is the first of many Wednesday work nights to come.
Volunteers are encouraged to help from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
One barn was clean by the end of Wednesday night. But volunteers still had 11 more to go.
We were told they will get it done one way or another, because they are working for the 14 hundred kids who participate in the youth fair each year.
