We need $200,000 to help save The Christmas Barn in Bethlehem, PA.

My name is Dana Alyss. You may know me from my viral social media series like The Dating Hunger Games or The Ugly Friend or maybe you don't know me at all.

A few years ago, I came back to my hometown of Bethlehem, PA after working in television in Los Angeles for 15 years. I saw the area being rapidly developed with warehouses, apartments and corporations, and it didn't look like the home I remembered.

I started attending local meetings trying to save some of the places we were losing, like a historic farm, the local drive-in, an old plant nursery, the quarry and an animal conservation area, but by the time I got involved, they had already been sold. I found out the hard way that there's not much you can do after that.

But there was one place I had loved since I was a kid that somehow was still standing:

The Christmas Barn.

The Christmas Barn was a beloved year-round holiday and gift destination in the Township of Bethlehem. After nearly 50 years in business, the store closed in 2007 following the retirement of its owners. The property has sat vacant for years and is now for sale.

I decided I wanted to try to save it.

If you know me, you know I love Christmas. And this is Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Christmas City USA. What better place to try to turn a real-life Hallmark Christmas movie plot into reality?

THE PLAN

The goal isn't simply to reopen an old store. The vision is to transform The Christmas Barn into a year-round destination centered around retail, food, entertainment and experiences while preserving the character and history that made the property special.

But the original barn concept needs an upgrade into the 2020's. The plan would include a seasonal holiday and home décor store, Pennsylvania and Lehigh Valley small businesses merchandise, a café/restaurant and an immersive Christmas experience.

It would also create opportunities to work with local businesses, makers and organizations and bring more visitors into the Lehigh Valley.

AND NOW... THIS IS ACTUALLY BECOMING REAL.

When I started this GoFundMe, I genuinely had no idea whether anyone would give $5 to this crazy idea.

You did.

Together, we've now raised more than $54,000 through this campaign in just 3 months.

And because of that support, we've been able to move beyond simply talking about saving The Christmas Barn and begin taking the steps necessary to actually try.

We're now officially a business. We've established a business structure with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, opened the business bank account, developed the concept and business plan, and can now begin putting the money we've raised toward the professional work required to pursue the property.

Our next steps include retaining an attorney and accountant, completing professional planning and renderings, preparing for inspections and due diligence, continuing to develop financing, pursuing investors and corporate partnerships, and beginning revenue-generating Christmas Barn products and events - all while continuing to raise money toward acquiring the property.

We still have a LONG way to go.

WHY $200,000?

Our original idea was incredibly simple:

40,000 people × $5 each = $200,000.

That's it.

The $200,000 is intended to help provide the capital necessary to pursue the property and project (including acquisition-related costs, professional services, due diligence and financing) as we work toward the much larger funding necessary to purchase, renovate and reopen the Barn.

I didn't want one person to have to write a $200,000 check.

I want everyday people to throw in $5 and then help us find the next person. I wanted the community to have something good to root for.

A real-life Hallmark Christmas movie where thousands of people decide an old Christmas Barn is worth fighting for and stopping developers from taking away historical places that matter.

THE IMPORTANT PART

I still can't promise you how this story ends.

The property still has to be acquired. There will be negotiations, financing, inspections, zoning, construction, professional fees and plenty of things we probably haven't encountered yet. The seller ultimately has to agree to sell it to us.

This is a real project with real risks, and the funds raised are now being committed to the work necessary to move The Christmas Barn Project forward, which means donations are no longer refundable once they have been spent or committed to the project.

If, despite our best efforts, we ultimately cannot acquire The Christmas Barn, our intention is for any remaining donations that have not already been used or committed to the project to be directed toward a nonprofit charitable organization created to continue the spirit behind this project of supporting preservation, local communities and businesses in need. The exact structure and use of those funds will be established with the appropriate legal and financial guidance.

But we're no longer standing at the beginning wondering whether anyone will believe in the idea.

More than $54,000 later, you already have.

We've created the business. We've opened the bank account. We're beginning to move forward with the work to make it come to life.

And now we find out how far we can take it.

Donate $5. Share this with someone who hasn't heard the story yet. Help us find the next person.

Let's see if 40,000 people can make a little Christmas magic happen. ❤️