On Dec. 5 at 7 pm The Community Christmas Concert released their 41st Annual Community Christmas Concert virtually.
This was a mix of cast contributions from 2020 with a retrospect of the last 10 years of concerts. We have been overwhelmed with the community support. Our video has been viewed almost 2,900 times! That is literally four times the amount of people who would have seen it in a regular year. It will be available until Dec. 30 for anyone to enjoy by going to YouTube and searching Community Christmas Concert Newburgh.
As always we have been accepting donations to support families and children in our community. We really weren’t sure how this would work itself out this year. It was our first year accepting donations by etransfer as well as cheques or cash. To say that we were totally overwhelmed would be an understatement.
As of today, we have received $33,750 in donations! And no that is not a typo! We have received support from across Canada from folks who had made the Christmas Concert a tradition and had not been able to experience it for many years. We had beautiful stories that touched our hearts. As always, 100 per cent of the donations go to families in our community.
Normally, the day after the concert, we would gather as a group of volunteers of 15 plus to shop together for lists of children that we have received from Limestone School Board in the Napanee North Addington Family of Schools. This year, we broke down into small family groups who then shopped for individual schools or organizations.
That is a lot of money! However, there is a lot of need this year. As of this week we have been able to support over 195 children in 11 schools in our area. Each one of those children are receiving a new set of clothing, pajamas, socks, underwear, hats, mittens, and at least one or two toys/gifts to ensure that when they look under their tree on Christmas morning they will have the best Christmas ever. Along with that we supplied every family on our lists with gift certificates for food that would ensure they could have a true Christmas dinner. We have also been able to help organizations with folks who have individuals with special needs and other organizations who support those in need in the community to ensure they will also celebrate Christmas with gifts and food and joy. We were also able to support individuals in crisis who need extra support at this point in their lives. All together we worked with more than 16 schools and organizations to provide for over 230 children and families in the community. Special thanks to our dedicated group of cast members and volunteers who have shopped tirelessly for the past week to make this all happen.
Overall, in the larger L&A community, there will be families from North Addington to Lake Ontario who will have a Christmas to remember. That is due to the extreme generosity of our community – both individuals and businesses. I wish I could name them as they all deserve recognition.
Thanks has to go out to our amazing cast who continue to show up year after year to put on this unique, organic experience that touch our hearts and those who come to watch us. Special thanks to Jameson Wood and Wood Creative Group who put this video together for us at no charge.
Goodness surrounds us. And this year more than ever it has been seen and will be appreciated. Merry Christmas to everyone from The Community Christmas Concert Group. We wish you a year of hope, joy and love and the wish we will all be together next year.
Sincerely,
Mae Whalen
Organizer
Community Christmas Concert