'A Midsummer Night's Sing' benefits needy

Ed Christenbury, a volunteer, and Sarah Owen, CEO of Community Cooperative Ministries, collect food at last year's "A Midsummer Night's Sing." Residents can help feed the hungry and give hope to the needy while enjoying an evening of music and fellowship at the 11th Annual "A Midsummer Night's Sing," sponsored by the Galloway Family of Dealerships.

The event, planned for Tuesday, July 22, at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Fort Myers, will be a 90-minute performance of hymns, instrumentalists, and special guests beginning at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

Admission is at least two cans of food (the more the better) and a voluntary cash donation to benefit The Soup Kitchen of Community Cooperative Ministries. Donations of canned goods also will be picked up by The Soup Kitchen for residents who cannot attend the event. Please call 332-7687 to arrange pick-up of food.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we desperately need your help. The need for food is absolutely critical this year. Please love your fellow neighbor and attempt to do what God would do and want you to do. Please show me a man or woman who has not needed a helping hand in his or her life, as well as the children," said organizer Sam Galloway, Jr.

"Rising unemployment and the downturn

in our local economy have caused many of our

..

neighbors to ask for food to feed their families

for the first time in their lives. Our director has told me, 'Sam, I cannot tell you who, but people are coming for groceries whom you and I know.' We can't allow our neighbors and friends to be hungry. Please - we need our community to get together and help with all the canned goods they can. We need to raise the roof with money and food, please!" Galloway emphasized.

Galloway annually sponsors the popular "Mrs. Edison's Hymn Sing" as part of the Edison Festival of Light in February. Because more than 4,000 people attend Mrs. Edison's Hymn Sing in the winter, organizers planned "A Midsummer Night's Sing" to allow more local residents to enjoy the same type of activity during the less crowded summer months.

The First Presbyterian Chancel Choir and friends will be featured during the evening, which will include sing-a-longs of well-known hymns everybody knows.

Canned goods and cash donations collected at the event will go to The Soup Kitchen of Community Cooperative Ministries, a nonprofit organization that serves more than 1,000 meals per day through The Soup Kitchen, Meals on Wheels and food programs for families in need. In addition, the agency provides transportation for the frail elderly and Montessori pre-school education for children from working poor families.

"Please try to bring at least two cans and whatever you can give, no matter how small. And, if you're among those impacted by our poor economy, come anyway and have a good time," Galloway said.

First Presbyterian Church is located at 2438 Second St., in downtown Fort Myers. The road is open in front of the church. For more information, call 334-2261 or visit www.firstpresbyterianchurchfortmyers. org