BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register



Chris Palmer is preparing a musical gift this Christmas.

“In church one Sunday a month or so ago, the chairman of the Berwick Food Bank had given a little talk to get people involved and doing something to help the food bank,� Palmer says.

“I don’t have the time to do stuff directly, but I can use the gifts I’ve got.�

Palmer is often asked to sing at shows and benefits around the Valley, and he’s used those connections to draw in talent for a benefit of his own December 10, on behalf of the Berwick Food Bank.

I’ve invited some people to come and perform, and everyone was on board immediately,� he says.

Joining Palmer are the gospel group, Sonlight; Brad Hewey, Gina Potvin, Hughie McDonnell and fiddler Ian Beaton. Palmer felt a variety musical afternoon would fill a double void from the years Marlene Jackson co-ordinated a community mass choir event as part of Berwick’s Christmas season - with admission then by donation to the food bank..

“We’ll have old-fashioned, traditional and sacred music - god familiar carols people can sing along with, and we plan a few audience carols, too. We want people to join in.�

Part of that joining in will be through the freewill offering taken at the door for the Berwick Food Bank.

“I want to have a representative there from the food bank so, at the end, we can just add up the collection, put it in an envelope and say, ‘Here you go, go buy a lot of turkeys or whatever you need’,� Palmer says.

The show, “A musical gift for the Berwick Food Bank,� takes place Sunday, December 10 at 2 p.m. at the Berwick Legion hall on Main Street.

“It’s an afternoon event, nice to have it just before Christmas, everyone I’ve asked has gotten caught up in the plans - and we’re hoping for a good crowd wanting to come.�