The final City of Courtenay Simms Summer Concert Series concert will be memorable – for more than one reason.
The concert itself, Pure Petty, will be a tribute to legendary American rocker Tom Petty, featuring Vancouver Island musicians Art Van Volsen, John Mang, Lance LaPointe, Richard Spencer and Dave Danylchuk.
The crowd participation factor of Sunday’s concert won’t be limited to the hundreds of fans singing along to the likes of Breakdown, or Free Fallin’ though. There’s also a chance for the Comox Valley community to show its philanthropic side.
The City of Courtenay and the Comox Valley Record are urging everyone in attendance to bring a donation to the Comox Valley Food Bank – be it a monetary donation, or a non-perishable food item.
“We want to fill the shelves – and the bank account – of the Comox Valley Food Bank,” said Record editor Terry Farrell, who came up with the idea at the final concert of the 2017 Simms Summer Concert Series.
“My wife, Erica, and I were at the Completely Creedence show last summer, and I have never seen Simms Park so full. I said to her, ‘Imagine if even one out of every five people here brought a donation to the food bank. That would be enough to fill the shelves for a month or more.’ So, I contacted Lisa Zervakis (communications and marketing specialist, City of Courtenay) and she loved the idea. We hashed out a few details, and it all came together really smoothly.”
At least the planning did.
The real success will depend on the community.
And you could very well be paid back almost immediately, for ‘paying it forward.’
The local business community has embraced the initiative, and there will be a huge cache of door prizes to be given away at the event.
Anyone who makes a donation to the food bank will be given a ticket, with a chance to win some incredible prizes, including a one-year fitness pass for the Lewis Centre Fitness Centre, a pet gift basket from Woofy’s, rounds of golf at Crown Isle, gifts from Island Honda, and $100 Habitat for Humanity ReStore gift certificate, just to name a few.
And the real winners will be those who rely on the Comox Valley Food Bank to make ends meet.
Come out, enjoy some great music, and help out other Comox Valley residents.
The Sunday, Aug. 26 show starts at 7 p.m. Make sure you bring a lawn chair, or blanket to sit on, and get there early if you want a seat close to the stage. For more information on the show, go to bit.ly/2tX4Lxq
terry.farrell@blackpress.caLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
