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Choir seeks donations for trip to China




Choir students at Tracy High School have a formidable task ahead of them: Raise $190,060 before March.


The group was one of three California choirs chosen to represent the U.S. at international student concerts in Beijing next year.


Their 10-day trip begins March 16 and costs $2,790 per student.


“A lot of students are willing to pay out of pocket, but we’re going to need a lot of help with this,” said Katie Connolly, a member of the Tracy High Madrigals.


To raise money, the choir will perform at private parties, soirees and business meetings throughout the holiday season. At each event, they’ll collect donations and sell themed student-made gift baskets.


Their next concert will be Dec. 13 at Tracy High. It will be free of charge and open to the public, but donations are welcome, Connolly said.


She said she hopes the group gets a lot of support this season, because this is the most significant trip for the student choir.


“Music and art in general are such a huge part of our lives, and this is such a huge opportunity for us,” she said. “We’re going to be there as China’s preparing for its summer Olympics.”


Last year, the group performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. This will be the choir’s first international trip.


For information: tracyhighmadrigals@starband.net.  

 

Operation Christmas Child

Since when have Christmas gifts been as simple as a shoe box filled with a few school supplies, toiletries, toys, candy and a letter? For millions of poverty-stricken kids worldwide, that one shoe box could be the best gift they’ve ever had.


Tracy’s St. Paul’s Lutheran Church is one of several San Joaquin County drop-off sites for the annual holiday charity Operation Christmas Child, which distributes donated shoe-box gifts to millions of children in 90 countries blighted by war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty.


The nonprofit is looking for volunteers both to donate and to recruit other organizations and businesses, like the Boy Scouts, local churches and service clubs, to get together and create several boxes to donate during the national collection week.


Step-by-step instructions for packing boxes are available at www.samaritanspurse.org.

• Lend a Hand runs in Our Town whenever someone is looking for volunteers or has a need for donations in Tracy. Send your plea to Our Town at jwadsworth@tracypress.com, or drop a note at the Tracy Press.