Deer entry caused $5K damage to classroom

A deer that crashed through the window of the YWCA TriCounty Area Monday into a classroom of napping toddlers caused $5,000 in damages.

Now officials have set up a fundraising page online to help cover the cost of repairing the Pottstown facility.

“The deer ended up causing about $5,000 in damages between the smashed screens and windows, ruined floor and carpeting, and items such as furniture and toys he trashed in the toddler room,” said Mary Kate Fain, a YWCA spokeswoman.

“The room will have to be shut down until we can restore it to guarantee the safety of the children. We are currently raising funds to help us restore the toddler room as soon as possible, since it is a burden on our parents to find other childcare during the day.”

To make a donation to the Y, visit the fundraising page at http://tinyurl.com/ ju87sat.

No one was injured after the young male deer crashed through a window into a toddler classroom from King Street then later escaped through a second window. The deer later died from its injuries, an animal control representative confirmed.

YWCA toddler center teacher Erin Merriam, who was the only teacher inside the classroom at the time, quickly removed the sleeping toddlers from the classroom and placed them into the director’s office until police could arrive.

The children were sent home with family members and the classroom was closed for the day Monday, according to Stacey Woodland, YWCA executive di- rector.

Blood was smeared on the walls and floor of the classroom and shattered glass covered both inside and outside the facility. Crews quickly arrived on scene to clean up the glass and board up the windows until they could be replaced.

“It was very crazy,” Woodland said Monday. “Only at the YW.”