Sleighing Hunger raises $80K for area food banks
Tenth anniversary concert sets record despite the absence of a live audience
The 10th anniversary Sleighing Hunger concert raised record funds despite COVID-19 forcing the event online.
The concert attracted a virtual audience of about 2,000 and raised $80,000 from ticket and CD sales, music downloads and contributions from various local sponsors, including the St. Clair College Alumni Foundation.
“To set a fundraising record amid a pandemic with a concert that, by necessity, had to be staged remotely, is the most heartwarming ending imaginable for this COVID -era Christmas story,” St. Clair College president Patti France said.
The funds raised were divided between the Windsor Essex Food Bank Association ($50,500), Chatham's Outreach for Hunger ($25,000) and the two St. Clair College student food banks, Student Representative Council-windsor ($3,000) and Thames Students Incorporated-chatham ($1,500).
“But, let's remember that this is a year-long effort, especially in the midst of the ongoing employment difficulties faced by many of our neighbours due to the pandemic,” France said.
“Food banks and social assistance agencies such as those helped by the concert need support throughout the year, so I encourage all of the concert's audience members to replicate that same Christmas spirit in the months to come.”
Over the past 10 years, the S'aints Sleighing Hunger concerts have raised a total of $350,000.
Some of Windsor-essex's top musical talent comprising The S'aints are: Jody Raffoul, Kelly Hoppe, Kelly Authier, David Cyrenne, Wes Buckley, Liz Robinson, Stephanie Baker, Martin Bak and Jeff Burrows.
“Although we missed celebrating our 10th anniversary live at our partner's Caesars Windsor Colosseum, we managed to pull off a `virtual concert' thanks to our friends at LIUNA Local 625,” said drummer Jeff Burrows, founding member of The S'aints.
“On behalf of The S'aints, we are proud to be part of such an outstanding community-driven donation towards our food banks in both Windsor-essex and Chatham-kent.”