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Upcoming fundraisers
Friday: Feeding the Flock Concert
When: 7-9 p.m. Friday
Where: Dillon Community Church, 371 E. LaBonte, Dillon
More info: (970) 468-2461
Join Dillon Community Church for an evening of jazz, “bluesy” folk and amazing original compositions from Summit's own talent, and help to feed our community this season. Music features Heidi Schmidt and Trading Fours (jazz), The GRINZ (blues) and Barry Nease's original masterpieces.
This concert benefits Dillon Community Church and Father Dyer food banks. Cash or food donations will go to feed the hungry in our community.
Dec. 10: Trading Fours, Arnie Greene and The Grinz at Silverthorne Pavilion to benefit FIRC
When: 7-9 p.m. Friday
Where: Dillon Community Church, 371 E. LaBonte, Dillon
More info: (970) 468-2461
Join Dillon Community Church for an evening of jazz, “bluesy” folk and amazing original compositions from Summit's own talent, and help to feed our community this season. Music features Heidi Schmidt and Trading Fours (jazz), The GRINZ (blues) and Barry Nease's original masterpieces.
This concert benefits Dillon Community Church and Father Dyer food banks. Cash or food donations will go to feed the hungry in our community.
Dec. 10: Trading Fours, Arnie Greene and The Grinz at Silverthorne Pavilion to benefit FIRC
It was Willie's idea first. He's the drummer for our jazz band, Trading Fours. The idea must have been floating around in the cosmos, because on that same day in early May, 2009, my mother suggested that our band should put together a benefit concert for the local resource centers. This was exactly what Willie had in mind. We all had read the article published in the Summit Daily News about the 200 to 470 percent increase in demand on the local food banks and the subsequent need for donations. The article reported that “the demand at the Family and Intercultural Resource Center (FIRC) has more than quadrupled since May of last year with concerns of how much more the numbers will increase during this job transition” (“Food banks demands increase”). Another article in the SDN published two weeks later attributed the increasing demand on the food banks to the rise of unemployment in the county due to the recession (“Food drive continues”). These articles spurred us on to really find out what the needs of our local community are and sparked in us a desire to find out what we could do to help.
Living in a resort community such as Summit County has its challenges. Amidst the opulent homes and large, fancy resorts live hundreds of families struggling to cover the basics of rent, food, utilities and insurance. The cost of living is between 112 and 200 percent higher than the standard city. Seventy-two percent of employment in the county is in low wage, service industry jobs. Many residents have two or more jobs in order to survive (“The Challenge”). Add to these challenges the current economic recession plus the rise of unemployment, and you have a recipe for hardship for many, many people.
Both Willie and I were among the unemployed, so we were feeling the effects of the recession on a pretty deep, personal level. Willie is a truck driver, his company was at a lull, and they didn't need him for a time. Fortunately for him, he was able to receive unemployment benefits. I had injured my knee and had to take some time off of my waitressing job. When I was well enough to return to work, it was mud season, and they didn't need me to come back. I filled out many other applications, but to no avail. I didn't qualify for aid, but fortunately for me, I had my family nearby. What about those who are not so fortunate?
Recently, the staff of Dillon Community Church held a church-wide meeting to discuss the possibility of expanding the church's food bank. DCC has a sizeable community ministry that serves whoever is in need. Jude Mitchell, the church's administrator, has reported a 300 percent increase of visitors to the bank this year. It is common to have as many as 25 people visit the food bank within the one-hour operating times throughout the week. This month, the community at DCC has just completed the expansion of the food bank, making it the largest food bank in the county.
I visited FIRC in Dillon, and was able to speak with Rob Murphy, the general assistance manager of FIRC. I asked him about the state of their food bank and if there was still a pressing need for donations. His answer was without hesitation. “Our food bank is continually low and there absolutely is a need for donations!”
“I think people just aren't aware that there is a need,” says Anita Overmyer, FIRC development director. “It's so easy to overlook when there is so much wealth and luxury around us.”
I must admit that I didn't know there was such a need until I read about it and then did my own research. The Vail Daily reports that unemployment in Summit County is up to 9.2 percent for July 2009, which is 3.1 percent higher than this past April. Having been unemployed for two months without aid made me think a bit more deeply about others in the same situation. I would have been in dire straits had it not been for my parents. How important it is that we have places like FIRC, DCC, and the many other great social service centers available for our community and for those in need?
Becoming more aware of our community's need, Trading Fours is moving ahead with plans for two benefit concerts. The first will be at Dillon Community Church Friday to help them not only celebrate the addition to their food bank, but to help them fill it! Joining us at this event will be The Grinz, a Summit County band whose rich combination of blues, folk, and rock will energize and inspire you.
The second event is set for Dec. 10 at the Silverthorne Pavilion. This one will benefit the Family Intercultural Resource Center. The Grinz will join us for this event as well as local favorite, Arnie Green. Our hope is that together we can raise awareness and provide local events that will bring music, giving, and joy together for the benefit of our community.
How beautiful it is when people come together to take care of their own. It's a win-win situation. Those of us who are in need receive help. Those of us who are able to give then reap the benefit of looking past ourselves and stirring up the good will that comes from caring for others. Community is enriched, and we are enlarged in our souls.
Heidi Schmidt is a Summit County local who is currently studying at the University of Denver. She play guitar and is also the vocalist for the jazz band Trading Fours.
Living in a resort community such as Summit County has its challenges. Amidst the opulent homes and large, fancy resorts live hundreds of families struggling to cover the basics of rent, food, utilities and insurance. The cost of living is between 112 and 200 percent higher than the standard city. Seventy-two percent of employment in the county is in low wage, service industry jobs. Many residents have two or more jobs in order to survive (“The Challenge”). Add to these challenges the current economic recession plus the rise of unemployment, and you have a recipe for hardship for many, many people.
Both Willie and I were among the unemployed, so we were feeling the effects of the recession on a pretty deep, personal level. Willie is a truck driver, his company was at a lull, and they didn't need him for a time. Fortunately for him, he was able to receive unemployment benefits. I had injured my knee and had to take some time off of my waitressing job. When I was well enough to return to work, it was mud season, and they didn't need me to come back. I filled out many other applications, but to no avail. I didn't qualify for aid, but fortunately for me, I had my family nearby. What about those who are not so fortunate?
Recently, the staff of Dillon Community Church held a church-wide meeting to discuss the possibility of expanding the church's food bank. DCC has a sizeable community ministry that serves whoever is in need. Jude Mitchell, the church's administrator, has reported a 300 percent increase of visitors to the bank this year. It is common to have as many as 25 people visit the food bank within the one-hour operating times throughout the week. This month, the community at DCC has just completed the expansion of the food bank, making it the largest food bank in the county.
I visited FIRC in Dillon, and was able to speak with Rob Murphy, the general assistance manager of FIRC. I asked him about the state of their food bank and if there was still a pressing need for donations. His answer was without hesitation. “Our food bank is continually low and there absolutely is a need for donations!”
“I think people just aren't aware that there is a need,” says Anita Overmyer, FIRC development director. “It's so easy to overlook when there is so much wealth and luxury around us.”
I must admit that I didn't know there was such a need until I read about it and then did my own research. The Vail Daily reports that unemployment in Summit County is up to 9.2 percent for July 2009, which is 3.1 percent higher than this past April. Having been unemployed for two months without aid made me think a bit more deeply about others in the same situation. I would have been in dire straits had it not been for my parents. How important it is that we have places like FIRC, DCC, and the many other great social service centers available for our community and for those in need?
Becoming more aware of our community's need, Trading Fours is moving ahead with plans for two benefit concerts. The first will be at Dillon Community Church Friday to help them not only celebrate the addition to their food bank, but to help them fill it! Joining us at this event will be The Grinz, a Summit County band whose rich combination of blues, folk, and rock will energize and inspire you.
The second event is set for Dec. 10 at the Silverthorne Pavilion. This one will benefit the Family Intercultural Resource Center. The Grinz will join us for this event as well as local favorite, Arnie Green. Our hope is that together we can raise awareness and provide local events that will bring music, giving, and joy together for the benefit of our community.
How beautiful it is when people come together to take care of their own. It's a win-win situation. Those of us who are in need receive help. Those of us who are able to give then reap the benefit of looking past ourselves and stirring up the good will that comes from caring for others. Community is enriched, and we are enlarged in our souls.
Heidi Schmidt is a Summit County local who is currently studying at the University of Denver. She play guitar and is also the vocalist for the jazz band Trading Fours.
