EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
After fire damaged a food booth at the Fall Festival, other non-profits are stepping in to help out.
Investigators think an overheated griddle is to blame for damaging the Harwood Booster Club booth. Luckily no one was hurt, but the booster club has lost out on a big money maker.
Or have they?
Scotty Willis grew up playing baseball for the Harwood Booster Club, and now, he's a coach.
On Monday, night Willis was working in booth 99 when its Fall Festival fundraising hopes went up in smoke.
"It was really heartbreaking," he said. "Just seeing it burn after knowing how many years we've been doing this and how much time and memories that's in this place. It's like a really sad moment."
The booth isn't ruined, but the damage will keep the club from returning to Franklin Street this week.
Which means they're missing out on a huge moneymaker.
"On a good year with good weather, this club could easily bring in $18,000 to $22,000 as we have before," said Darrell Grigsby, a former club president.
He knows this is tough blow.
"Losing the type of money that they've lost now, it's going to take a big effort from a lot of volunteers and some help to make it continue for the kids," Grigsby.
But as the Harwood Booster Club returns what supplies it can, other booths are stepping in.
"We decided to make a collections for them at our booth," said Marie Johnson-Metcalf with Restore Outreach.
On top of that, Restore Outreach plans to donate some of its proceeds.
Over at booth 48, those from Salem United Church of Christ are doing their part, too.
"We were feeling sorry for them and wondering what we could do, so we came up with the idea maybe we can get everybody to join in a little bit and help the Harwood Boosters out," said Pastor Al Schmitz.
So, they're going down the rows drumming up support for a longtime member of the Fall Festival family.
If you would like to help out, you can send donations to: Harwood Booster Club, P.O. Box 9133, Evansville, IN, 47724.
All food booths are asking if they'd like to donate. They'll present those donations to the West Side Nut Club later this week.
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