Crooning country tunes to support Red Cross
by Monique Glenn
Local musician Steve Piticco, who recently returned from a cross-country tour with Tommy Hunter, headlines the Red Cross Fundraising event on March 29 at Centennial Secondary School.
The Red Cross is hosting its third-annual, Red Cross Goes Country music show, and hopes to raise near $6,000. This money is going to be put towards the local Red Cross branch to train their volunteers.
"We train disaster volunteers who will respond here or around the world. The cost of training each volunteer is quite a bit because for someone that is really interested in disaster volunteering there are two different levels of training," said Lois Hodgins the community services coordinator of the Belleville branch Red Cross.
The Quinte branch had volunteers go down to Louisiana to serve during the hurricanes a few years ago, and after the 9/11 attacks there were volunteers sent to New York City.
"Our volunteers are trained so they can help anywhere," Hodgins said.
The fundraiser consists of a silent auction, a 50-50 draw and door prizes. A musical performance will include the talents of Steve and Spike Piticco, Donnie and Vickie Wallace, Heather Hodgins, Al Murack, Casey Garlick, Brian Dolph and Mike Scott.
The auditorium at Centennial can hold up to 700 people. Hodgins is hoping to have the space filled to the maximum capacity. Tickets are being sold in various stores around the Quinte region including their office. Hodgins said both Ardene's locations sold out of their tickets yesterday.
"They are selling very fast," Hodgins said.
The auction starts at 6:30 p.m. and the music show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Piticco was contacted by the Red Cross through his email where they asked him to be part of the event. He was in the Philippines on tour at the time, but is thankful his wife, Spike Piticco, booked it for him. Piticco said he is excited to be part of the fundraiser and believes that the Red Cross is a good organization.
"We hope the community comes out to support the event. It's a really good show and we have a lot of good talent."
Amanda White, a 19 year-old child and youth worker student at Loyalist College said she would love to go to the Red Cross goes Country fundraiser if she can.
"I love country music and I think that the Red Cross is an organization that should be supported," she added.
Other students at Loyalist agree with White's feelings in regards to the organization.
"I would go and support the Red Cross due to it being a growing organization that needs as much support as it can get," said Tyler Smith, an 18 year-old justice studies student.
"I can't wait to go, my boyfriend and I already have our tickets!" said Beckie Chalmers, a child and youth worker student at Loyalist. |
