A concert this weekend is being held to help support some charities here in Oceanside and in Africa.
The Oceanside Grandmothers to Grandmothers, in collaboration with the Oceanside Concert Band, are hosting their second annual Christmas concert at Knox United Church Saturday, Dec. 17 from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Kathy Grand, one of the founders of Oceanside Grandmothers to Grandmothers, said the event will benefit the local Salvation Army, Society of Organized Services (SOS) Christmas program and the Steven Lewis Foundation (SLF), which supports those who have been effected by the HIV/Aids epidemic in Africa.
She said with sponsorship from Knox United Church they are once again able to host a concert featuring the Oceanside Concert Band and the Parksville Youth Choir, both members of the Parksville and District Music Association.
Maureen O’Hearn will be the featured soloist and Major Rolf Guenther will perform the Santa duties during intermission.
Grand said admission for adults is by cash donation and for children admission is a food item or an unwrapped toy.
She said they are inviting families to come out and listen to beautiful music.
“This is a way to say thank you to the community for all their support,” said Grand.
At the Grandmothers to Grandmothers extravaganza held last month in Parksville, the group grossed over $14,000.
The craft sale is their most successful fundraiser of the year with net proceeds going to SLF.
Grand said they sold 51 of their popular granny bags at the craft bazaar this year, the largest number they have ever sold at any event.
“It was a thrill to have that many sold. We have wonderful support from the community,” said Grand.
The local charity group has already donated $164,000 to the foundation which supports community-level organizations that are turning the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa by providing care and support to women, orphans, grandmothers and people living with the deadly disease.
The AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa continues to devastate communities and since the beginning of the epidemic 14.8 million children have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.
