United Churches of Langley (UCOL) is putting its trust to raise money to feed local students in a higher powered evening of entertainment with the jumpsuited one.
The fundraiser features Elvis entertainer Steve Elliott in concert Saturday, May 25 at 7 p.m. in the church at 21562 Old Yale Rd. (formerly known as Sharon United).
An Intimate Evening with Elvis will feature his music from the 1950s through to the 1970s with ticket proceeds supporting the church’s work with the Starfish Pack program.
“Several years ago, the Langley School District Foundation took on the Starfish program in Langley and began supporting 30 families,” explained Gillian McLeod, social justice and outreach program facilitator with UCOL.
“The United Churches of Langley immediately volunteered to help by receiving food, sorting, packing and then distributing the bags to the necessary schools.”
At first, the church’s effort supported 20 students.
“Over the years, as food has increased in prices and difficulty in acquisition, we are now supporting 88 families over three different schools,” McLeod noted.
The UCOL is part of a large local network of residents and groups helping hungry children through the Starfish initiative.
In Langley, approximately 464 students at more than 41 schools get a bag of groceries each weekend – almost all local schools participate in a weekend food program.
In Aldergrove the Aldergrove Rotary Club and the Langley School District Foundation support the Aldergrove schools. The North Langley Rotary Club supports some schools in the Fort Langley and Willoughby area, and the Langley School District Foundation along with UCOL support others, she said.
“At UCOL, we are able to pay for 60 bags each week and will increase funds as we are able. The school district foundation provides funding for the 28 more bags that we currently prepare and distribute weekly,” McLeod said.
A challenge through the years has been the provision of gift cards for food over Christmas, spring breaks, and summer holidays.
“Each year we look for ways to fundraise to buy the gift cards to help support the families with groceries over the breaks,” she said.
That’s where the idea of the fundraising concert arose.
“All the funds raised will be given directly to the Starfish program in order to provide the summer gift cards,” she explained.
“Together we will meet the needs of low-income families in Langley and help them be fed over the summer months.”
Tickets for an Intimate Evening with Elvis are $30 apiece and available through eventbrite.ca (event 830824226627) or at the church office (cash or cheque) until May 24. If any tickets are unsold by the time of the concert May 25, they will be available at the door for $35.
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• READ MORE: A year into the weekly food program at local schools – 2016
• READ MORE: School district foundation works to feed kids during pandemic
