Director James Kennedy talks to Charlie Brown (played by Jura Davis) in Davidson Community Players' "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." (Ginny Darcey photo)
Davidson Historical Society is selling another Davidson-themed Christmas ornament this year to raise money for society programs. Also, Davidson Community Players is producing three performances of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” on Saturday at Armour Street Theatre to raise money for Davidson-Cornelius Day Care. And a “Toilet-Trees” drive is underway to collect household and personal items for families served by Ada Jenkins Center.
Read on for details about those and other fund-raisers.
STAGE: ‘CHARLIE BROWN’ HELPS DAY CARE
Davidson Community Players will produce three special performances of the beloved musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” at the Armor Street Theater in Davidson on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.
Organizers hope the production, featuring student actors and a student director (James Kennedy), will raise $1,200 for Davidson-Cornelius Day Care, on Gamble Street. There’s no admission charge; patrons are asked to make a donation at the door.
Since opening its doors in 1969, the center has existed to help children reach their full potential without regard for family income. Over the years, the day care has been an important part of the lives of hundreds of local children and their families. Due to unusual financial challenges this year, the center faced the possibility of closing unless it received immediate financial support.
The play follows Charles Schulz’s beloved characters through a magical day of childhood drama and imagination. When Charlie Brown feels pressured to be the “good man” his friends believe he is, he spends the entire day trying to discover what exactly a “good man” should be and whether he truly lives up to such a lofty title.
Reservations are not required but seating is limited.
"Helper Hotel" is this year's Davidson Historical Society ornament.
HISTORICAL ORNAMENT
For the second year, the non-profit Davidson Historical Society is selling a Davidson history-themed Christmas ornament to raise money for its programs. This year’s metal ornament depicts The Helper Hotel on North Main Street (now a Davidson College office building known as the the Carolina Inn.
Ornaments are available at The Village Store, Main St Books and Wooden Stone.
Last year’s ornament included an image of the historic Davidson family home, Beaver Dam, off Davidson-Concord Road.
Angel Tree gifts awaited delivery Tuesday. (David Boraks photo)
ANGEL TREES HELP 50 FAMILIES
The Davidson Police & Fire Department will be out and about this week and weekend delivering some of the hundreds of gifts purchased as part of their annual Angel Tree gift-giving program. The departments posted trees at Town Hall and St. Alban’s Church.
Several rooms full of bicycles, toys, bagged and wrapped gifts and gift cards were awaiting delivery Tuesday when we stopped by South Main Square. Kathleen Rose, who is helping to coordinate the campaign to provide holiday gifts for families in need, said 50 families will be helped this year, up from only about 25 or 30 families in past years.
Background in our Nov. 23 news item, “Help a local family with an Angel Tree gift.”
TOILET-TREES DRIVE
It’s a hilarious pun, but it’s gathering attention. An effort led by a South Street family called “Toilet-Trees” is collecting badly needed toiletries and other household items for families served through the Ada Jenkins Center.
Parents driving their kids to school at Davidson Elementary School at the end of South Street already may have seen the toilet bowl with a Christmas tree planted in it. The tree is decorated with toilet paper rolls and other household items, to inspire donations that will go to local families in need.
The drive was started by the Worsley family of South Street. Read more in our Wednesday, Dec. 16, news item, “Toilet-trees drive aims to fill a need (pun intended)”
Needed are toiletries, diapers, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, razors, shaving cream, baby wipes, paper towels and similar items. Supplies may be dropped off at the school, at Ben & Jerry’s ice cream on Main Street, and at the Worsley home, 518 South St.
ICE GALA
Tickets are now on sale for the ICE 2010 fund-raising gala to benefit the Ada Jenkins Center, a regional community services center at 212 Gamble Street in Davidson. This year’s event is Saturday, Jan. 23, at 6:30 p.m., at The Peninsula Club in Cornelius.
The gala is one of the major annual fund-raisers for the Ada Jenkins Center, where services include the After-School Program, which provides tutoring for 60 area elementary children; the Mobile Community Dental Clinic; the Free Clinic of Our Towns medical clinic; the Loaves & Fishes food pantry; and a variety of other youth education, crisis assistance and economic independence programs.
ICE 2010 tickets are $100 per person. For reservations, sponsorship information, or other details, go to www.adajenkins.org/ice. Or call 704-896-0471, ext. 102.
FUND-RAISING CALENDAR
SATURDAY, DEC. 19, 11 a.m., 1:30 and 4 p.m., Armour Street Theatre, Armour and Watson streets – Davidson Community Players presents the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” featuring local student actors and a student director. Admission free, but donations accepted for Davidson-Cornelius Day Care. Reservations are not required and seating is limited. More information: www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org
DEC. 17-19, Warehouse 242, 2307 Wilkinson Blvd., Charlotte – Lake Forest Church in Huntersville and other churches have collected hundreds of toys, hats and mittens for a Christmas Village Toy Store. The store lets at risk, low-income families buy Christmas presents at reduced cost. Proceeds will go towards college scholarships for inner city youth and a summer camp for homeless children. Details: www.christmasvillagetoystore.com or call 1-877-310-8697.
SATURDAY, JAN. 23, 6:30 p.m., Peninsula Club, Cornelius – Annual Ice gala, to benefit the Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson. Tickets $100 per person, available at www.adajenkins.org/ice or by calling 704-896-0471 ext. 102.
SATURDAY, APRIL 17, Ada Jenkins Center, 212 Gamble St. – Second annual Fire BBQ and 5K run. The 5 K will be held at Ada Jenkins first thing in the morning, followed by a BBQ sale, BBQ competition and food from area restaurants. More details as the date gets closer. www.adajenkins.org
SUBMIT YOUR EVENT
Send listings and press releases to us at editor@davidsonnews.net. Don’t forget to include a contact phone number, in case we have questions.
