The Lee County Soup Kitchen, Meals on Wheels, Faith in Action and Hand & Hearts Montessori Preschool - Press releases and special events
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You can celebrate the holidays at an old-fashioned sing-a-long and at the same time help feed the hungry at the Holiday Carol Sing on Thursday at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Fort Myers.
Although admission is free, cash donations and canned goods will be accepted for The Soup Kitchen, operated by Community Cooperative Ministries.
This is the 19th year for the popular event organized and sponsored by the Galloway Family of Dealerships.
Three performances will be held at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Doors 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.”
Those who cannot attend the performances can 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.
This year’s performance features the First Presbyterian Church Choir, soloists and other special guests singing holiday carols with audience sing-a-longs.
Those attending will also be able to visit Santa’s House and see Santa and Mrs. Claus preparing for the holidays with the help of their elves.
A live manger scene will be presented in the courtyard of the church.
Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman will be making a visit for the children.
This a major source of support for the CCMI’s Food Pantry, a nonprofit 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.
Last year CCMI received more than $4,800 and 6,000 pounds of canned goods and other non-perishable items from the Holiday Carol Sing. The food was immediately distributed to those in need.
For information, call 332-7687.
Community Cooperative Ministries (CCMI) was incorporated in 1984, and has long been a driving force in the Fort Myers community, providing food to homeless and nearly homeless, as well as emergency groceries and affordable childcare to the working poor. In July of 2006 the agency expanded its mission and outreach to Lee County by merging with agencies that had historically provided home delivered meals to the homebound hungry (Meals on Wheels), and transportation services to the frail elderly (Faith In Action) and The Soup Kitchen. This merger created an agency that is able to provide comprehensive, unduplicated services to the homeless, nearly homeless, homebound, seniors and children more effectively, more efficiently and with greater compassion than at any other time in the former agencies histories.