The Lloydminster and District Coop have announced their partnership in bringing the Huron Carole back to Lloydminster.
On December 2 this year, residents will be able to see the touring Canadian Christmas production, which raises donations for local food banks. The Vic Juba will once again host the show as in years past. This year, however, the beneficiaries of the donations will be the Salvation Army and the Olive Tree.
Canadian-born Métis actor and singer, Tom Jackson, stars in the show, which he describes a “Christmas musical… it’s a story about a guy who is homeless, who the creator, sent him somebody who was worse off than him. For whatever reason he decided to help that guy; it changed his life. And he decided to call some of his musical friends, and to present a concert, to raise money to help those who are in need.”
In the roughly 28 years since the Huron Carole began and started touring the nation, the project has helped raise $250 million in cash and food services for food banks across the country.
Don Stephenson, the CEO of the Coop says that Jackson actually approached him late in the year last year but there wasn’t enough time to put things in order, so this year they kept the idea on the radar.
“We’re thrilled to have him here, be a part of this fundraising effort for the Huron Carole, and to get some well-deserved funds put together for both the Salvation Army and Olive Tree.
The slogan of the Huron Carole mission is “Defeating Hunger; Feeding the soul.” It certainly seemed like the show feeds Jackson’s soul. When asked about the Huron Carole means to him, he said the production is like his oxygen.
As mentioned, The Huron Carole, has been to Lloydminster a couple times in the past, but never with a community partner in the capacity of the Coop.
“I’m really excited! We worked with the Huron Carole 2 and 3 years ago, but without community partners, it’s hard to make it as successful as we all would like it to be. Without our community partners, we would not be able to feed or help those families that come to us for help. So it means an awful lot to us,” says Pastor at the Salvation Army, Lisa O’Doherty.
As well, according to O’Doherty there has been a significant rise in the need amongst Lloydminster and area families. In the first 6 months of 2015, the Salvation Army helped 472 families, and in the first 6 months of 2016, the group helped 813 families.
