Arts of the Pamlico is seeking donations and planning a fundraiser to cover expenses caused by replacing two hearing units and a compressor on another heating unit that failed during the past week or so at the Turnage Theatre.

“One right after the other, and we just had to replace a compressor on another one. It’s just like yuck, yikes,” said Debra Torrence, executive director of Arts of the Pamlico, on Thursday.

The loss of the heating units and compressor did not affect any events or programs at AOP or the theater, which AOP owns and operates. “We closed for one day to make sure all the air was clear and that we would have enough heat. Eneco East was able to work with us quickly to get something in within a few days,” Torrence said.  “Our first unit to go was our main front gallery. So that was our biggest one. The second one that went was our backstage unit, which provides heat for all the artists. Then the office unit, the compressor went.”

Torrence added, “Right now, we’re probably up to about $22,000 in unexpected expenses.”

“We’re going to have a fundraiser in the early part of 2018 because we … anticipate and plan that the other units are of the same age. Part of the challenge was, I think, that this building sat idle for two, two and a half years. So, the units weren’t running. We’re running them. We’re running them full tilt because we’re open all the time,” Torrence said. “I think it’s a combination of things. They found there had been rust that had gotten into the units. That’s probably from nothing running and condensation gathering in the units.”

Anyone desiring to make a donation to help with the unexpected expenses may do so by visiting AOP’s website — www.artsofthepamlico.org — and clicking on the “donate” button at the upper right corner of the home page. “If they want to email me and tell me they want it to go to the heating unit, they can,” Torrence said.

Donations may be dropped off or mailed to Arts of the Pamlico, 150 W. Main St., Washington, NC 27889. AOP’s office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.