Christmas Carol Sing returns for 30th annual year
A long-time standing tradition that celebrates the season of giving, with both Christmas carols and collecting nonperishable food for the hungry, will be held in Fort Myers this month.
First Presbyterian Pastor Dr. Paul deJong said Christmas Carol Sing is a fundraiser for Community Cooperative, which began at the church from a Sunday School class that wanted to do something for Fort Myers.
“People were sitting around saying what can we do for the needy people in the community. It started by passing out sandwiches from the trunk of our car. Now it’s completely separate from the church,” he said.
Community Cooperative Chief Executive Officer Stefanie Ink Edwards said there were three big churches in downtown Fort Myers that got together to start the organization with First Presbyterian Church being the only one that is still in existence.
Community Cooperative, deJong explained, is a true blessing for the community.
“As a pastor here, I am so thankful. Being downtown we will get people in need. All kinds of needs,” he said. “To have that place that fully services them that I can refer them to, or bring them to . . . such a blessing. They are world class and very good at what they do. It’s a gift to have them in this town, it really is.”
Sponsored by the Galloway Family of Dealerships, the 30th annual Christmas Carol Sing will take place on Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, at 2438 Second St., Fort Myers. The doors open 30 minutes before each show. There is also a strong chance that Santa Claus will make an appearance.
The Rev. Roger Peterson, the event music director, said they would be singing the music regardless, but holding the Christmas Carol Sing is making sure they are tackling the hunger in Lee County.
“Sam Galloway Jr. has been so passionate about it. First Presbyterian is just the host church all this time. Sam would get his crew together to make sure the needs of the community were not forgotten,” he said. “Boy have we brought in the groceries and funds throughout the years.”
deJong said he really credits the Galloway Family of Dealerships for continuing to support the event even after Sam passed.
“Sam Galloway was the driving force behind it,” deJong said of the event. “In honor of Sam Galloway, we are continuing the Carol Sing to support the needy.”
With Galloway passing away this past year, they knew he would want the event to continue to be upbeat for the community.
“Sam always believed that if your family is hungry, you will do anything to feed them. By having Community Cooperative there, they kept families in our town from being hungry, so people wouldn’t feel desperate to feed them. It benefits all of us to not have hungry children in our community. It is the right thing to do. It’s the best thing for the city of Fort Myers,” deJong said.
Peterson said he and his wife, Barbara, who is a pianist, moved to the area in 2003 and are now finishing their 18th year with the event.
The music is divided pretty evenly, starting with a sacred package, which includes such numbers as duets, solos and the congregation singing familiar Christmas carols. Those favorites include such tunes as “O Holy Night,” “Joy to the World,” and “Away in the Manger.” Peterson said they then go into a fun section where they sing such popular songs as “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”
“The audience is involved all the way through,” he said, adding that there are words and pictures on the wall to go along with the songs, so it is easy for the audience to join in and have a great time.
Peterson said he is amazed that the Christmas Carol Sings continues, as often times things fade out after a certain time span. He said he really enjoys watching the audience get involve and sing songs they have sung their entire lives.
“They enjoy it and that just makes me enjoy it all that more,” Peterson said.
Although admission is free, attendees are asked to bring at least two cans of nonperishable food for The Soup Kitchen, operated by Community Cooperative. Cash donations can also be made.
deJong said if an attendee cannot bring anything it is fine, but ideally a dry item, or canned food would be greatly appreciated.
“It’s something you can actually touch. It goes in the hands of the needy,” he said, adding that they will also place the plate during the event. “It goes straight to Community Cooperative and they can buy food a lot cheaper than you and I can. Anything you can bring will go right in the hands of someone who needs it. That is the purpose of the event, to continue to support what was always called the Soup Kitchen.”
Edwards said Christmas Carol Sing is their most festive event where the community comes together to celebrate the holiday season.
“The event is one of many ways to give back. It’s a fun event for the family, or just you to come out and get festive for the holiday season. It’s one of the greatest traditions that we have here in Fort Myers … a really great one especially during the holiday seasons,” she said.
The food drive and monetary donations are important for Community Cooperative’s holiday season.
“We usually get a few thousand pounds of donated items,” Edwards said, adding that the monetary donations varies from year to year. “All of the food goes into our community market and folks in need can shop for those items the following day, which is really neat.”
During the 2019 event, 2,800 pounds of canned goods and nonperishable items were given to Community Cooperative, which was then immediately distributed to those in need.
The Christmas Carol Sing, deJong said, is amazingly simple.
“We get together. We sing Christmas carols. There will be a chorus group that will perform. For the most part it’s audience participation, which is actually kind of fun,” he said. “It’s a feel good experience. People are always smiling. People will plan their trips down here based around the event.”
deJong said people just do not walk down the street singing together like in the Netherlands, where his parents grew up in the 1920s.
“We might sing alone in the car when no one hears us. For the most part we don’t sing. It’s fun to be in a room with other people and sing Christmas songs. If you sing like I do it’s okay,” he said laughing. “Have fun together. Everyone leaves smiling and leaving good because it is fun to sing Christmas carols together.”
Community Cooperative is no longer seeing pandemic numbers in terms of who it is helping.
“They have come back to reality,” Edwards said, adding that it is still trending higher and it is back to doing intake for all of its programs. “It’s nice to be fully back open for all of our programs.”
The success of Community Cooperative, a grassroots nonprofit organization, is dictated by the generosity of the community. Edwards said they could not help the tens of thousands of people they do without the help of the community.
For those who are unable to attend, donations can be made at communitycooperative.com.