AMERICA
SINGS!
To Kids Who Feel They Have No
Hope...From Kids With Hope To Share
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SERVICE
PROJECTS Encouraged by America Sings!, choirs from all over the United States are performing community service work to help others in their area. Here are some of the wonderful projects done by choirs who attended an America Sings! festival or special event. Fresno, CA: Unity Performing Arts Chorus held a candle-light march from City Hall to the Craycroft Children's Center bringing gifts on Christmas Eve. West Palm Beach, FL: Jefferson Davis Middle School held a car wash to raise funds for the homeless and had a drive to gather school supplies and clothing for less fortunate kids in their area Sharpsburg, GA: East Coweta High School collected money for a local food bank, the homeless and the Children's Defense Fund. DeLand, IL: Deland-Weldon High School collected coats, toys and canned goods to give to Dove in Dewitt County. They also served in an area soup kitchen. West Dundee, IL: The First Congregational Church Youth Choir adopted a little girl from Peru through Compassion International. St. Clair Shores, MI: The South Lake Middle School Choir sponsored a competition between the school's homerooms to see which class could bring in the most hats and mittens as a charitable donation for a local clothing closet. Pickerington, OH: The Lancaster-Fairfield Youth Choir volunteered their help at the spring Special Olympics Track & Field event for Fairfield County. Haworth, OK : The Sunrays from Haworth High School held a book drive to replace books at a nearby school that burned down. Greenville, SC : The Voices of Hope held a "Back to School" Party for the children of the Shelter for Victims of Family Violence. They collected school supplies, clothing, etc., and brought baked goods for the party. Walworth, WI : Big Foot High School's choir held a benefit concert for the Twin Oaks Homeless Shelter of Walworth County. Findlay, OH: The Findlay High School "Voices in Perfection" participated in a "Brown Bag Challenge" giving up lunch money for VIP food shelter fund. Western Springs, IL: The First Congregational Church "Spirit Choir" sponsored a booth for Gifts of Life with proceeds going to the Heifer Project providing vaccinations, ducks, cows, etc. to Third World Countries. Cedar Grove, IN: The Mt. Carmel School "Voices of the Vikings" made applesauce-cinnamon tree ornaments that were sold to provide funds for the local food bank. Paoli, IN: The Paoli High School "Harmony Singers" collected money for the Crusade for Children Fund by having the crowd at basketball games toss money into an open blanket as students held it going around the gym. Racine, WI: The Racine Kiwanis Youth Symphony Music Program prepares sixteen hot/cold dishes, each month for the St. Rose Community meal program. They also set up the tables, serve the participants and clean up afterwards. Panama City Beach, FL: The Surfside Show Choir sponsored a "Wouldn't You Like to Hear Your Teacher Sing?" contest. Containers are placed on each teacher's desk and students vote with their spare change. The teacher with the most money in their can will have to sing a song at the talent show. The unique part is that all the proceeds will go to a children's charity in their area selected by the students and teachers. Walls, MS: The Walls Elementary School Choir sponsored "Kiss A Chicken." Students voted for either the principal or assistant principal to kiss a chicken on Valentines Day by giving money. Pennies and paper money counted as votes to not kiss the chicken, while silver money counted as votes to kiss the chicken. The project raised funds for the Ronald McDonald House, and the assistant principal had to pucker up! Western Springs, IL: The First Congregational Church "Sunshine Choir" participated in Panera Dough for Funds - the money raised provided pizza lunch for kids at the Illinois Rehabilitation Education Center in Chicago. The Sunshine Choir has performed and visited with the residents there every year, except one, for the last 25 years! America Sings! often hears from choirs that charge a particular item or donation as admission to their concert and then give those items to a local charity. Here are examples of choirs using their concerts to make a difference: Oak Forest, IL: The G. Kerkstra Music Department has become part of the philanthropic movement at school. At concerts they charge a non-perishable food item as admission which is donated to the neighborhood food pantry. Montcalm, WV: The Montcalm Elementary "Singing Generals" charged one canned item as admission to their Christmas Concert. Over 400 cans were collected and donated to the Local Union Mission. Geneva, AL: As admission to their holiday concert, Geneva Middle School and High School collected canned goods and items for donation to the local Department of Human Resources.
More ideas will be added as we hear from our participants...we would love to hear from you! |
