DECEMBER 3, 2009 ISSUE
Christmas in the Mountains Volume 3 On Sale at 72 Locations
Hunger & Health Coalition Sells CD, Organizes Sharing Tree, Collects Food for Less Fortunate
The Hunger and Health Coalition’s Christmas in the Mountains Volume 3 CD is now available on the shelves of 72 locations across the High Country.
The Hunger and Health Coalition’s Christmas in the Mountains Volume 3 CD is now available on the shelves of 72 locations across the High Country. Purchasing the CD helps provide food to hundreds of less fortunate families in the local area, as does donating food at one of The Hunger and Health Coalition’s 42 food box locations and adopting a family from the organization’s Sharing Tree.
Christmas in the Mountains Volume 3 CD
For $10, locals and visitors can purchase the Christmas in the Mountains Volume 3 CD and enjoy local performers producing new takes on timeless Christmas songs, while at the same time support the health and wellbeing of less fortunate members of the community.
“We are so proud of this year’s CD. So many old friends and new performers have given of their time and talents to make this CD exceptional,” said Leslie Shavell, coordinator of the Christmas CD project.
Artists on the CD include Amantha Mill, Todd Wright, Jeff Little & Friends, Diana and Sarvis Ridge, Strictly Clean & Decent, Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church Choir, Bob and Ellie, Sharon Mitchell, Ruth and Steve Smith, Helen White, Joe Shannon, The Kinston Trio and Jessica Presnell.
The sales of 2008’s Christmas in the Mountains Volume 2 CD were overwhelming, according to organizers, with proceeds and donations netting more than $40,000.
All the proceeds from this year’s Christmas in the Mountains Volume 3 CD fund a new initiative established by The Hunger and Health Coalition called “End Childhood Hunger in the High Country.” The initiative’s goal is to eliminate some of the food shortages that this economic crisis has created in the local community.
“That is why the proceeds of the CD this year are more important than ever,” explained Shavell. “Food donations are down, so we have to purchase more and more food to feed the increasing number of folks who have lost their jobs and have nowhere to turn to get food and medicine but The Hunger and Health Coalition.”
In addition to the 72 locations (listed in sidebar), interested parties can also purchase a CD through the mail by sending a check for $12 with “Christmas CD” written on the memo portion of the check to: The Hunger and Health Coalition, PO Box 1837, Boone, NC 28607.
Food Boxes
The Hunger and Health Coalition annually sets up large boxes at area grocery stores, churches and businesses and collects food and supplies for the less fortunate. This year, the nonprofit features 41 locations (listed in sidebar) for residents to drop off food and supplies.
“These donations help us get through the busy season that we have,” said Compton Fortuna, executive director of The Hunger and Health Coalition. “[The food boxes] are really important—the need for food assistance has increased significantly.”
Fortuna said that area food banks are distributing less food recently, forcing The Hunger and Health Coalition to purchase its own when collections are lean. Thus, collections from the food boxes enable the nonprofit to not only fulfill its orders, but also make sure the orders contain a diverse selection of options.
Residents are invited to drop off food and supplies in the boxes throughout the month of December.
Sharing Tree
Akin to an Angel Tree, The Hunger and Health Coalition has set up a Sharing Tree at its office located at 141 Health Center Drive in Boone. Forms on the tree represent 171 local families that need assistance during the upcoming holiday season, and local residents are encouraged to adopt one of the families and purchase gifts and sundry items for them.
Parents and children are both listed on the forms, and each person is asked to create a wish list for items totaling less than $50. Residents can adopt one family at a time. Some adopters buy gifts for the children and then purchase a dinner for the parents; some buy the family a Christmas tree and food; and some write a check to The Hunger and Health Coalition to be used on the respective family.
“You can do it however you want to do it,” said Fortuna.
As of press time, only 10 families out of the 171 were still available for adoption.
“It’s just amazing,” said Fortuna, who added that local churches adopted many of the families in groups, explaining why so many families are taken this early in the holiday season.
For more information about The Hunger and Health Coalition or to donate, call 828-262-1628.
The Hunger and Health Coalition Food Box Locations
The following locations feature food boxes from The Hunger and Health Coalition:
Bank of America
Bank of Granite
Bare Essentials
BB&T – Highway 105
BB&T – Highway 321
Blowing Rock Fire Department
Boone Bowling Center
Boone First Baptist
Boone First Presbyterian Church
Boone Mall
Boone United Methodist Church
Cove Creek Store
Curves
Deer Valley Club
Earth Fare
First Citizens Bank
Food Lion – Highway 421
Food Lion – Boone
Food Lion – Blowing Rock
Greenway Baptist
Harris Teeter – Boone
High Country Bank – King Street
High Country Bank – New Market Center
High Country Bank – Shadowline
Park Place Realtors
Park Terrell Agency
Piedmont Federal
Rite Aid
Regal Cinemas
Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church
St. Mary’s
St. Luke’s
St. Elizabeth’s
State Employees Credit Union
United Community Bank
Wachovia – Blowing Rock
Wachovia – Boone
Walgreens
Wellness Center
Western Watauga Community Center
Community Interest
News & Notes
Events
Arts & Entertainment
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