Annual Holiday Carol Sing to help the hungry in Fort Myers

COURTESY PHOTO Members of The Mastersingers greet guests as they arrived at last year's Holiday Carol Sing. Area residents can celebrate the holidays at an old-fashioned sing-a-long and help feed the hungry at the Holiday Carol Sing Tuesday, Dec. 9, at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Fort Myers. Admission is at least two cans of non-perishable food for The Soup Kitchen, operated by Community Cooperative Ministries, and a voluntary cash donation.

It's the 18th year for the popular event, which is organized and sponsored by the Galloway Family of Dealerships.

Because of the overwhelming popularity of the event, an additional 1 p.m. performance has been added this year. Two other performances are planned at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The doors will open 30 minutes prior to show time.

"The need for food is absolutely critical this year," 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 shelves are bare — we need our community to get together and help with all the canned goods they can."

Residents who cannot attend any of the Holiday Carol Sing performances may donate canned goods at either the Galloway Ford dealership on Boy Scout Drive or the Coconut Point Ford dealership on U.S. 41 in Estero.

The Holiday Carol Sing is a festival of holiday music and family fun. This year's performance will feature the First Presbyterian Church Choir, soloists and other special guests singing favorite holiday carols with audience sing-a-longs.

Those in attendance also will be able to visit Santa's House and see Santa and Mrs. Claus busily preparing for the holidays with the help of their elves. A live manger scene will be presented in the courtyard of the church.

There also is a strong rumor that Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman will be making a surprise visit for the children.

All canned goods will benefit Community Cooperative Ministries, which operates The Soup Kitchen on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fort Myers.

The annual Holiday Carol Sing is a major source of support for the Soup Kitchen's Food Pantry, a non-profit 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.

"Anybody who is hungry, we feed," said Executive Director Sarah Owen.

Last year, Community Cooperative Ministries received more than 5,000 pounds of canned goods and other non-perishable items from the Holiday Carol Sing. The food helped feed the hungry through the spring, according to Owen.

For more information, call 332-7687.