Credit: Penny Martin
Vandals broke bricks, but they did not break spirits.
Recently, volunteers for local Advocates for the Homeless and Those in Need discovered vandals had smashed a large amount of cinder block stored behind the soon-to-open Emmaus Road Church on Bristol Oxford Valley Road in Middletown Township.
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Group members say they aim to keep with plans to build the shed.
The nonprofit group, which helps keep the homeless warm on cold winter nights, was about to use the bricks to build a 18-foot by 20-foot storage shed to hold cots and donated clothing intended to help Levittown’s homeless, according to volunteer Jim Ewart and founder Penny Martin. Martin said the group has outgrown a storage space donated by a Langhorne church.
Ewart and Martin both told LevittownNow.com that is looks like the vandals who destroyed the cinder block, stole some metal rebar and damaged part of the parking lot came from a nearby wooded area.
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While an exact number figure for the cost has not been determined, Martin said she had concerns for future security of the shed.
Credit: Penny Martin
“The rain has put us far enough behind,” she said.
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The project has many volunteers and coordinating them with the weather and other factors has been an issue, Ewart said, noting that one volunteer has cancer and gives his time based around his treatment schedule. He added that Mike Hepp of MCA Construction has played a major role in the project.
As for the suspects who damaged the small construction site, they have not yet be found.
“It’s bad,” Ewart said. “Why would anyone do this?”
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The vandalism has received attention from several media outlets over the past few days, which has lead to several donations from residents and the regions businesses, Ewart said.
Martin said those wishing to help can contact her at advocates4homeless@gmail.com. The group can be found on the internet at advocates4homeless.org.
