By Melissa Smalley
A benefit concert hosted by the Eclectica Community Choir this month raised a record amount of money for two local outreach organizations.
A grand total of $3,170 was raised at the Dec. 11 concert – held at a jam-packed Martin Exeter Hall – along with four boxes of non-perishable food, to be split between the 100 Mile House Food Bank and Loaves & Fishes Outreach.
"This helps us out immensely," Kathy Haveman, secretary treasurer for the Food Bank tells the 100 Mile House Free Press.
"We can now go out and buy all the extras – all the candies and oranges that we like to put in the hampers. It's just great."
Haveman was on-hand at the concert and spoke to the crowd about the need for support throughout the community. The number of hamper requests in the first week of December had risen sharply from that of November, Haveman told the crowd – an increase of nearly 50 hampers in only two weeks.
"We do see the number go up sometimes, but not usually that quickly."
Eclectica director Marilyn Buyar says the choir was delighted with the large turnout at the Sunday afternoon performance, which included a wide range of holiday pieces and other songs appropriate for the winter season.
"Despite the frigid weather, we had a large and enthusiastic audience. They demonstrated once more that the folks in the South Cariboo are very generous."
The concert also featured an ever popular Christmas carol sing-along, as well as some solo and ensemble pieces, highlighting the range of talent in the group.
The choir's accompanist, Donna Forward, entertained the crowd prior to the start of the show with some holiday favourites on the piano spanning several decades.
While the choir is now on break for the yuletide holidays, registration for the group's next season is set to take place Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. at the 100 Mile House United Church, where the choir rehearses every Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Everyone is welcome to join and beginners are encouraged in a fun, low-pressure atmosphere to take part.
The group will be gearing up to take part in the Parade of Choirs in Williams Lake in February as well as hosting a spring concert in May.