ThisWeek CW 11/06/2013
The Center for Groveport Madison Human Needs is searching for support from area residents to help brighten the holidays for local families in need.
Several fundraising events are on the calendar for November in support of the center’s holiday Adopt-a-Family program. The events include meals and entertainment, as well as an opportunity to complete some holiday shopping, all in the name of helping others.
“For the last several months, our organization has been hit hard financially with the amount of requests for assistance — to the point that we have not been able to meet additional requests until the money is replenished,” center Director Christine Boucher said. “That is slowly starting to happen. However, these events in November will really help boost the bottom line.
“So it’s a win-win for the whole community: Folks can be entertained and we can build up our cash-assistance pool.”
The first event, the second annual Evening of Dinner & Gospel, takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 8, at Asbury United Methodist Church, 4760 Winchester Pike. Tickets cost $10 in advance for dinner and the concert, or $5 at the door for the concert only.
“Last year was our first year for the Evening of Dinner and Gospel. We had 80 reservations for dinner and we were at max capacity,” Boucher said.
Three gospel groups will perform this year: the Gospel Roadmasters, Cornerstone Gospel Quartet and God’s Ambassadors.
“The whole event was organized by Gene McCauley with Gospel Roadmasters,” Boucher said. “He heard me talk about the great need we had for more financial support to help more residents and he came up with this idea to have the dinner and concert.”
Last year’s dinner and concert, held at Groveport Town Hall, sold out so Boucher hopes the larger venue will be just as successful.
The Groveport Madison Human Needs second annual Holiday Craft Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Groveport Zion Lutheran Church, 6014 Groveport Road. Admission is one nonperishable food item, which also enters attendees into a raffle drawing.
The St. Mary Catholic Church St. Vincent de Paul youth group will provide lunch options.
Proceeds from the lunch sales as well as all vendor fees and the nonperishable food items will go directly to the Adopt-a-Family program. Individual raffle tickets also will be available for sale with proceeds going to the Adopt-a-Family program.
Finally, the center invites everyone to ring in the holidays with the sixth annual Giving Thanks Choral Concert, beginning at 6 p.m. Nov. 24 at the Groveport Madison High School auditorium.
“Every year, the community choir, under the direction of Terri Christensen, performs the Sunday evening before Thanksgiving,” Boucher said. “We have several wonderful community partners who help in a variety of ways, not just financial. We are blessed and thankful to have them as part of our organization.”
Ticket reservations and direct donations to the Center for Groveport Madison Human Needs may be made at center4gmhn.org.