{"id":77937,"date":"2025-12-10T03:33:20","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T03:33:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/77937\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T03:33:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T03:33:20","slug":"christmas-carol-sing-raises-1000-pounds-of-food-for-community-cooperative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/77937\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Carol Sing raises 1,000 pounds of food for Community Cooperative"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Santa Claus listens to the wishes of Sadie Hayes. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Saxophonist Michael Pcolar plays \u201cRockin\u2019 Around the Christmas Tree\u201d. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Community Cooperative CEO Stefanie Ink Edwards and Community Cooperative\u2019s Janelle Olson. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Avril Allen, Sairis Ramirez and Kymani Myrie collect food for Community Cooperative. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Soloist Debbie Bohrer sings \u201cMy Grown Up Christmas Wish\u201d. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Song Leader Beverly Cox leads the audience in singing carols. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Residents and visitors who attended the Christmas Carol Sing at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Myers on Dec. 6 contributed plenty of food and funds to help Community Cooperative feed the hungry in Southwest Florida.<\/p>\n

About 1,000 pounds of non-perishable food along with generous financial contributions were collected at the 34th Annual Christmas Carol Sing, which was sponsored by the Galloway Family of Dealerships and Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, L.C. The contributions will help support families in need during the holidays, according to event organizers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is so gratifying to see our community coming together to help those less fortunate, especially during these economic times. The need has never been greater,\u201d said Community Cooperative CEO Stefanie Ink Edwards.<\/p>\n

More than 400 people attended the two performances, which featured Violin Soloist Jeffrey Fabisiak, who once played with the Naples (Italy) Symphony Orchestra, Saxophonist Mike Pcolar, Soloists Beverly Cox, Debbie Bohrer, and Laurie McCoy accompanied by Robb McCoy as well as members of the Community Choir, and a visit from Santa Claus.<\/p>\n

In addition to the Christmas Carol Sing, First Presbyterian Church also presents Mrs. Edison\u2019s Hymn Sing on Feb. 3 as part of the Edison Festival of Light. Both events benefit Community Cooperative, which was founded by First Presbyterian Church of Fort Myers along with other churches in 1984.<\/p>\n

The Christmas Carol Sing and Mrs. Edison\u2019s Hymn Sing are major sources of support for Community Cooperative, which works to end hunger and homelessness in Lee County.<\/p>\n

In 2024 alone, Community Cooperative assisted more than 46,000 unduplicated individuals through its programs, providing more than 2.1 million pounds of food to neighbors in need. Dedicated volunteers delivered more than 117,000 freshly prepared meals to homebound seniors through the Meals on Wheels of Southwest Florida program, and more than 2,000 volunteers contributed 46,000 hours of service to help fulfill the organization\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n

For more information about Community Cooperative, call 239-332-SOUP or visit www.communitycooperative.com. For more information about First Presbyterian Church, call 239-334-2261 or visit www.fpcfortmyers.org.<\/p>\n


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