BATH, Pa. — Lehigh Valley Apparel Creations is stepping up to collect warm clothing for those in need, and anyone who donates can walk away with some free company swag.
LVAC owner Chris Regec announced the clothing drive will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until Dec. 31 at 151 N. Chestnut St. in Bath. Those who contribute will score themselves a free LVAC sweatshirt or T-shirt.
All collected clothing — in addition to blankets, food, or other necessities — will be distributed to Bethlehem-based New Bethany, a nonprofit agency that provides transitional housing and emergency food services.
LVAC has made a name for themselves printing shirts, promoting live music, and hosting some of the area’s wildest pro-wrestling events. Through those ventures, it has built a strong community connection, and — according to the owner — a desire to step up and help those in need.
“I think everybody has a lot of anxiety about the future of the economy and the future of everything. So it seems like a good opportunity to really put that out for people to participate in this.”Chris Regec, owner of Lehigh Valley Apparel Creations
Regec hopes his company’s effort will lead to even more people pitching in to help.
“I think everybody has a lot of anxiety about the future of the economy and the future of everything," Regec said. "So it seems like a good opportunity to really put that out for people to participate in this.”
“And hopefully that would also ideally spark them to be like, ‘Oh, I can do stuff like this. I can just go volunteer somewhere, or I can spearhead a donation drive.’ Whatever we collect is cool, but hopefully that also sparks other people to just say, ‘Hey, I can do that, too.’”
LVAC began about 15 years ago, Regec said, when he quit his day job and began making shirts in his parents’ back yard.
After setting up shop in East Allentown for a few years, the operation moved to Fountain Hill before settling at its new location in Bath.
“It's gone from a single person to a team of 15 of us, and we've printed for every local business that you love, like Homebase [Skateshop] and stuff like that, a lot of bands, a lot of artists, and then a lot of schools,” Regec said.
They’ve also done plenty to promote local shows with area artists and touring bands, as well as numerous pro-wrestling events throughout the years.
On top of that, LVAC was responsible for that '85 throwback Musikfest gear in 2024,
“I didn't start this business because I wanted to run a business," Regec said. "I didn't want to have a real job. You know, inadvertently, it just came around to where it sort of is a real job now, but it's also a way for us to impact the community around us.”
