Midsummer Night’s Sing to benefit CCMI, North residents
It will be an evening of hymns, instrumentalists, and fellowship, and it will go to aid many people in North Fort Myers.
Hungry families and children out of school for the summer will benefit from the 16th annual “A Midsummer Night’s Sing,” presented by First Presbyterian Church of Fort Myers and sponsored by the Galloway Family of Dealerships.
The event, planned for Tuesday, July 23, at First Presbyterian Church at 2438 Second St. in Fort Myers, will be 90 minutes of church classics beginning at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30.
The First Presbyterian Chancel Choir and friends will be featured during the evening, which will include sing-a-longs of well-known hymns.
Admission is free, with cash donations and cans of non-perishable food being accepted to benefit Community Cooperative Ministries.
“It’s not a fundraiser, it’s a foodraiser,” said publicist Susan Bennett. “We did this because there wasn’t a lot to do in the summer. We thought we’d try one and this is for the year-round folks.”
A Midsummer Night’s Sing is the second of three hymn sings sponsored annually by the Galloways. The other two are Mrs. Edison’s Hymn Sing in February and the Holiday Carol Sing in December. All three events benefit CCMI.
“The point is to sing the good old gospel songs we’ve known since we were kids,” said Roger Peterson, minister of song at the church. “It’s a chance for fellowship together as members of this community.”
Sam Galloway Jr., has arranged for refrigerated trucks to deliver food to neighborhoods that have the greatest food needs.
Tracey Galloway, CCMI executive director, said those trucks will be going to North Fort Myers this summer because of additional support from Lee County government.
“Our community has done so much to help our neighbors, but we need to do more. If we each just gave the equivalent of what we would spend on a meal – either at home or in a restaurant – those few dollars could feed a family of four for an entire week.” Tracey said.
Tracey Galloway said CCMI is delivering food this summer to Lee County families in need through mobile food pantries, with about 2,000 children and families benefitting.
During the school year, children often receive their only meals of the day at school.
“We need to help The Soup Kitchen by donating as much canned goods and cash donations as we can to keep these pantries going,” said First Presbyterian’s pastor, the Rev. Paul deJong.
Peterson said the event will help everyone north of the river.
“The food that is bought and the food that’s spread out will be spread throughout the CCMI community, which goes to all Lee County and includes North Fort Myers,” Peterson said.
CCMI was started by the First Presbyterian Church in 1984, and is an organization fighting to end homelessness and hunger in our community. The agency provides more than 14,000 meals each month through their Everyday Cafe and Marketplace and home delivered meals programs. It also runs an emergency food pantry.
For more information, call 334-2261 or visit www.fpcfortmyers.org.