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Group striving to bring back Burnham Community Day

BURNHAM — Efforts are underway to revive Burnham Community Day, just a week after organizers of the annual event announced that it will no longer take place.

Renee Ryder, who has been a craft vendor at the event for the past five years, said on Monday that she was in tears when she learned that the event was canceled.

Last week, the Burnham Community Association sent a letter to vendors, businesses and others who have contributed to the festivities in the past few years, stating that the event would be discontinued.

Burnham Community Day filled Beech Street in Burnham with arts and crafts, food and entertainment on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend for more than 20 years. It was a free activity for those who attended, and any proceeds went toward community projects.

Ryder said Burnham Community Day was the first event she ever attended as a vendor and said she fell in love with it.

“When I got the letter, I was in tears,” Ryder said. “Then I rallied on Facebook and started a page called Saving Burnham Community Day. Overnight it got 145 members and I have 15 to 20 volunteers.”

She and several other people interested in saving the event met on Sunday “with five ladies who have done it the 23 years,” Ryder said.

After learning what has to be done to stage the event, Ryder and other volunteers began making plans. They will form a board of directors this week and attend next Monday’s Burnham Borough Council meeting for approval to hold the event on Sept. 2.

“We’re starting from scratch. We have three months of work to do in two weeks,” Ryder said.

Tasks include fundraising through August to finance advertising, insurance, accounting and legal fees and acquiring nonprofit status.

“I want to make those ladies proud,” Ryder said.

Anyone interested in being a vendor or helping with the event may contact Ryder at reneeryder@pa.net, or visit the Facebook page Saving Burnham Community Day.

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