Joyful Concert Raises Funds for Flood Relief

Dinner concert raises $3,000 for flood relief at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields 
by Allison Askins

An evening of  great music and delicious food brought in some $3,000 for flood relief work by St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, Columbia, earlier this month. The funds will be donated to the South Beltline Flood Relief Program, which formed after the 2015 flood in the Columbia area and continues to do work as a result of that natural disaster to this day.

St. Martin's parishioner Frank Avignone with The Rev. Susan Prinz

The event which took place on the one-year anniversary of the flood -- Oct. 4 -- drew more than 100 people who had purchased $25 tickets that provided a New Orleans style meal cooked by parishioners and a concert by Dick Goodwin and the Capital City Big Band. The event seemed to strike just the right chord. Participants raved over the food and danced during several musical numbers. 

Another aspect of the evening that brought unexpected success -- and nearly $1,000 of the $3,000 to be donated --  was the Patisserie, a room filled with home-baked goodies that participants purchased for their desserts. Many also bought whole cakes to take home for later enjoyment. 

Le Patisserie!

Delivery of leftovers to the Oliver Gospel Mission in downtown Columbia the next day was another bonus of the event's outreach efforts. 

The Rev. Susan Prinz delivering food to Oliver Gospel Mission in downtown Columbia

Happy pictures filled Facebook feeds the next day, as well, a joyful sign of a parish coming together in fellowship with the community in a mutually-supportive relationship.

If you would like more information about the event, contact the Rev. Susan Prinz at susan.prinz@stmartinsinthefields.com.