The Maine Pops Concert Band's December 13 Christmas benefit helped raise $2000 for the Mountainside Community Church to donate to the Falmouth (ME) food pantry.
Pastor Mac Ray of Mountainside Community Church made the donation announcement at the conclusion of the Maine Pops' annual fundraising performance. Ray said an earlier fundraising effort in Falmouth had been scheduled for the food pantry, but was cancelled due to the Lewiston shooting incident. He thanked the Maine Pops for again providing assistance to the church's fundraising efforts and he thanked all who contributed to the effort.
A very large audience jammed the pews inside the church sanctuary to hear the Maine Pops - under the direction of David Watts - perform the following holiday compositions:
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
A Fireside Christmas
Bashana Haba 'ah
Brazilian Sleigh Bells
Lux Aurumque
Pat-a-Pan
Sleigh Ride
Gesu Bambino
Still, Still, Still
Christmas Music for Winds
Hallelujah Chorus
The band has one more holiday benefit concert in 2023. The Maine Pops will perform on Wednesday, December 20, at St. Luke's Cathedral in Portland, beginning at 7 p.m.