1987- The Concerts to End Hunger
Hunger relief had become a significant outreach effort of the Woodland Christian Church in the 1980s and 90s. Following the establishment of the God’s Pantry-Crisis Food Center (here at Woodland, in 1979), an increasing number of Lexingtonians worked to support the new food bank.
During the Pantry’s fifth year of operation, the congregation at Woodland organized a series of benefit concerts, ambitiously titled the Concerts to End Hunger. The first concert was held on March 22, 1987 and earned $3,600 for the benefit of God’s Pantry and the Hope Center. By the second year the concert raised $5,100 based on an attendance of 375 people, plus donations. In addition, offerings of food were being collected by the congregation.
Jackie Diachun was the driving force behind the concerts and their overseer for many years. But she did not work alone. Nancy McKenney wrangled some of central Kentucky’s finest musicians – as she said, “to provide an opportunity for classical musicians to have their music speak to a larger purpose and to allow listeners to deepen their personal commitment to a world without hunger.” The “musical feast” was open to the public.
Jackie Diachun chaired, and secured a prominent conductor, while Doris Snow handled donations & tickets. But they had a lot of help. Lee Ball, Beulah Bell, Janice and Mel Boyd, Dorothy Drury, Anne Ames, Rev. Larry Metzger, Harris Parke, Elizabeth (Libby) Roundtree, James Trader, Bruce Simpson and Minister of Music Ann Smith assisted with planning, sales, ushering, and hospitality.
The third and fourth concerts in the series featured the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra’s conductor George Zack leading Cellist Nancy McKenney and her mother, violinist Mable McKenney who were part of a 21-piece Chamber Orchestra - featuring trumpeters Vince DiMartino and Rich Tillman - in black tie and tails.
On May 22, 1990, God’s Pantry Executive Director, Mary Jo Votruba wrote to Nancy McKenney offering her most sincere thanks for the success of the most recent concert, which generated $1,449.60 for hunger relief in central and eastern Kentucky.
During the Pantry’s fifth year of operation, the congregation at Woodland organized a series of benefit concerts, ambitiously titled the Concerts to End Hunger. The first concert was held on March 22, 1987 and earned $3,600 for the benefit of God’s Pantry and the Hope Center. By the second year the concert raised $5,100 based on an attendance of 375 people, plus donations. In addition, offerings of food were being collected by the congregation.
Jackie Diachun was the driving force behind the concerts and their overseer for many years. But she did not work alone. Nancy McKenney wrangled some of central Kentucky’s finest musicians – as she said, “to provide an opportunity for classical musicians to have their music speak to a larger purpose and to allow listeners to deepen their personal commitment to a world without hunger.” The “musical feast” was open to the public.
Jackie Diachun chaired, and secured a prominent conductor, while Doris Snow handled donations & tickets. But they had a lot of help. Lee Ball, Beulah Bell, Janice and Mel Boyd, Dorothy Drury, Anne Ames, Rev. Larry Metzger, Harris Parke, Elizabeth (Libby) Roundtree, James Trader, Bruce Simpson and Minister of Music Ann Smith assisted with planning, sales, ushering, and hospitality.
The third and fourth concerts in the series featured the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra’s conductor George Zack leading Cellist Nancy McKenney and her mother, violinist Mable McKenney who were part of a 21-piece Chamber Orchestra - featuring trumpeters Vince DiMartino and Rich Tillman - in black tie and tails.
On May 22, 1990, God’s Pantry Executive Director, Mary Jo Votruba wrote to Nancy McKenney offering her most sincere thanks for the success of the most recent concert, which generated $1,449.60 for hunger relief in central and eastern Kentucky.