Two nights of festive fun supported an important cause in Okotoks.
The 18th annual Okotoks Food Bank Christmas Concert, dubbed Soul Food 2024, was held on Dec. 10 and 11 at the Okotoks Evangelical Free Church.
The beloved event is an annual fundraiser for the food bank, for which demand has doubled in the last five years.
"To our audience, your support tonight means more than you know," said Okotoks Food Bank executive director Bente Yanota. "By attending, donating, spreading the word about our mission, you're ensuring that individuals and families in need have access to nourishment and dignity, especially during the holiday season when our services are most in demand."
The Charms (Denis Dufresne and Megan Ann Konschuh), Calum Graham, 33 Union (Mike Martel and Shaun Cardinal), Mike King, Brettyn Rose and Chase Morgan, Dwight Forseth and Jim McLennan, MzBehavin' and Ribeye Cap with Pat Hanley were on the lineup for both days, while Amy Bishop performed during the Tuesday show and the Carolyn Harley Trio took the stage the following day.
Diamond Valley cowboy poet Doris Daley emceed the Tuesday show.
Yanota expressed gratitude for the community's ongoing support as the Okotoks Food Bank nears its 40th anniversary, which will be commemorated in 2025.
"While this milestone reflects our longstanding commitment to serving the community, it's also a sad reminder that food banks were meant to be a temporary solution," said Yanota, "yet they can become a permanent fixture in nearly every city and town in North America."
Learn more about the Okotoks Food Bank on its website.
