A Saturday fundraiser helped many
Four plus 152 equals 156. That’s how many people watched three trombonists play their hearts out last Saturday evening, with many of them opening wallets at end to help raise money for the Church of the Holy Innocents Food Pantry in Highland Falls.
The ‘four’ above were in- person attendees at the concert, held in the sanctuary of the church, and 152 were those who watched a livestream on Facebook. The numbers pleased both Holy Innocents’ Rev. Judy Ferguson and Marty Tyce, who organized and performed in the concert, because of COVID protocols at the church.
In addition to Highland Falls’ Tyce, retired from the West Point Band, playing in the concert was Nate Rensink — the Principal Trombone of the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra and a freelance musician — and John Sellmeyer, a Bass Trombone player and Adjunct Instructor, Music Department at Marist College (he’s also the accommodations coordinator at the Office of Accommodations and Accessibility at Marist).
Tyce is the president of the West Point-Highland Falls Rotary Club, a group which has an average of five members who assist with the Food Pantry every time there is a pick up in Cornwall, every two weeks. He, like other Rotarians, are passionate about helping the church and those 450 people it serves monthly with free food. Holy Innocents also assists El Buen Pastor, an Episcopal Church in Newburgh with food.
Ferguson called Saturday’s concert “really good”, noting “Marty chose wonderful pieces of music to play on the trombone, and all three trombonists were excellent musicians. Marty’s comments leading up to each piece of music were also very informational and engaging.”
Because the concert was virtual for most, the church used its Venmo account to accept donations for the food pantry. It remains open for donations (specify food pantry when donating) at @HolyInnocents-Church.
Dates for the food pantry are March 10 and 24. It’s open from 3-5 p.m., with entry on Church Street, outside Holy Innocents’ Parish Hall. It continues on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month.
