Fatal Fire: Nearly $10K Raised for Funeral Costs

The Emmaus community, with the help of Emmaus resident Sue Zacharda and the Business and Community Alliance, raised nearly $10,000 to help cover the funeral costs of the four victims of the fatal St. Patrick's Day fire in the borough.

Emmaus Borough Councilman Brian Holtzhafer recently shared an email message with Emmaus Patch detailing the activities of the Business and Community Alliance in the wake of the tragedy. Holtzhafer passed on the "amazing email" so Patch readers would know about what was being done by BACA and Zacharda.

That email message, written by BACA President Kathleen Haney, and addressed to Emmaus Fire Chief James Reiss, Emmaus Police Chief David Faust, Council and Borough Manager Shane Pepe, explains that Zacharda approached the BACA with a desire to do something to help the families of those killed in the fire.

BACA and Zacharda quickly partnered on an outreach initiative, according to the email, with Zacharda ultimately becoming the chair for the ad hoc committee and spearheading the effort that raised $9,432.77.

"We sincerely thank Sue for approaching us with her desire to assist our community," Haney wrote. "We were happy to help with this project. So many in Emmaus, throughout the Lehigh Valley and beyond donated to this fund. The generosity of others is such a warm confirmation of humankind.

"We are happy to report that the fund collected $9,432.77," Haney wrote. "The account was closed, and the proceeds were distributed (to the respective funeral homes) equally among the four victims that perished. Our continued thoughts and prayers are with the first responders...EMS, FD, PD, their co-workers, families and friends and all of those affected by this tragedy."