SHS Students Sing for a Cause

“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.” -Booker T. Washington

As Thanksgiving approaches and many prepare to feast on turkey and mashed potatoes while watching football and laughing with friends, others are not so fortunate. Some will find their Thanksgiving meal in soup kitchens, like Loaves and Fishes Ministries in Hartford, CT, which is a not-for-profit, funded primarily by donations and run by a village of volunteers. It is not just food that is served at Loaves and Fishes, either. They provide job training as well, helping their clients with job skills and employment placement. Homelessness is a reality and a little help goes a long way.

A group of Simsbury High School students are doing their part by sharing their talents and the gift of music: Maria Lepak, Zoe Raposo and Ethan Hamlin run The Holiday Cabaret, an A Capella group that performs locally in order to raise money for Loaves and Fishes during the Holiday season. The group meets on Fridays after school to rehearse, then perform in various places, including outside of Fitzgerald’s on Saturday mornings. You can also find them at Simsbury Celebrates on November 30, where they will perform both in front of the library early in the night and on Iron Horse Boulevard prior to the fireworks. Have a holiday party that needs that special touch? Well, you can book The Holiday Cabaret to perform at your event, too, where they will accept donations for Loaves and Fishes. In past events they have raised anywhere from $25-$800 and every penny helps.

Loaves and Fishes website reports that they serve about 35,000 meals each year and “clients report their lives have been changed because they come to the soup kitchen hungry and leave having eaten what is often their only hot meal of the day.” You can give a quarter, a dollar or a $50 directly to Loaves and Fishes. You can give a can of soup or an hour of your time. And/or you can support The Holiday Cabaret and enjoy great music and holiday cheer while helping others. However you might do it, please consider giving what you are able to this Holiday season. It just might make you happy, too.

Holiday Cabaret Performances (Donations Appreciated)

• Simsbury Celebrates: Novemeber 30, 2019,5 p.m in front of the library and 8:15 on Iron Horse Boulevard prior to the fireworks
• Saturday mornings outside of Fitzgerald’s through December
• Donate directly to Loaves and Fishes via their website: http://www.loavesfishesministries.org/
• Book The Holiday Cabaret for your home/office party by contacting Maria Lepak @lepakfamily@gmail.com