Holiday in the Park benefits food bank
Sounds of the season will fill Horner Hall again this year as the Fun City Chorus and friends celebrate Holiday in the Park at 6 p.m. today.
The event, which has been hosted by the organization for more than a decade, brings together voices from across Garland County all in the name of providing much-needed items for Project HOPE Food Bank.
“The only year we did not do this was last year — we just weren’t able to get it pulled together in time,” said Steve Spakes, director of the Fun City Chorus. “This year we were committed to bringing it back and Arvest Bank helped tremendously in getting this event going this year.”
Spakes said the master of ceremonies is Don Gooch, community bank president of
Arvest, which he said will be a treat this year.
“Don will actually be singing a few songs and if you’ve never heard him sing, he’s fantastic,” he said. In addition to Gooch and Fun City, Sylvia Stems, the Providence Quartet of Hot Springs Village, and choirs from Mountain Pine, Hot Springs, Jessieville and Lake Hamilton school districts will perform and Sandy O’Bier will be featured on piano.
“It’s just a fun night for people; Santa Claus will be there passing out candy and a few gifts,” he said. “All we ask is that people bring a canned food item or two for donation to Project HOPE.”
For a few weeks, Spakes said six boxes have been available at locations around town for people to donate items ahead of the event. Boxes will be set up at the entrance of Horner Hall, as well as a jar for cash donations if some come unprepared with nonperishables. All will benefit the food bank.
“We are honored to be selected to be the recipient of Holiday in the Park’s food drive this year,” said Ted Thompson, executive director of Project HOPE. “Your generous donations will help 45 area agencies serve seniors, families, and children facing hunger.”
Spakes said he recently toured the food bank and was amazed at the operation which benefits area food pantries.
“They are a source for all the food pantries in town,” he said. “If a church or another food pantry calls needing 100 loaves of bread, they’ll charge maybe 30 cents a loaf — far cheaper than they would be able to buy in the store — to be able to provide in their pantries.”
Spakes said the event has always been well-attended with around 800 people most years. This year, he said that will probably be the case again.
“I think easily we will see about 500 or 600 people this year, but we could hit our 800 mark,” he said. “And one thing to note is the whole concert is only about an hour and 20 minutes. It starts at 6 p.m. and you should be out be 7:30 p.m. to go have dinner or do a little Christmas shopping.”