Submitted

It’s the most wonderful time of the year … to help those in need.

For over 30 years, Rowan Helping Ministries has been providing aid and support to thousands of citizens struggling in our community. In the last year alone, Jeannie’s Kitchen prepared more than 80,000 meals, the clothing center helped almost 11,000 individuals and the shelter provided a safe overnight stay to over 500 people. In order to maintain these vital programs, Rowan Helping Ministries needs your help.

The Salisbury Swing Band has joined forces with Rowan Helping Ministries to help you ring in the holiday season. The group is under the direction of Catawba College’s Dr. Stephen Etters, a clinician and adjudicator with more than 30 years of service in music education. A 17-piece non-profit dance band in Rowan County, several of the band members have toured extensively as professional musicians, studied at America’s finest conservatories and currently teach their respective instruments. The band features Salisbury native Laura Millspaugh on lead vocals. Classically trained, Laura is a former Miss Virginia talent winner who has been a featured soloist at the Annual Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Festival in Newport News, Virginia and toured with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation as singer and dancer. This premier musical group performs genres that all ages can enjoy from the great American standards of the 30s and 40s, the beach tunes of the 60s and dance hits from the 70s to today.

The Salisbury Swing Band will perform live at the Salisbury Civic Center on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 7-10 p.m. In addition to the group’s normal repertoire, the evening’s concert will also feature holiday classics in the swinging style of crooners like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Rosemary Clooney. Seating will be available or you can cut loose on the dance floor. Light refreshments will be served.

All proceeds from your $15 ticket will go directly to the Rowan Helping Ministries to support the services they provide to the needy in our community. In addition to your ticket purchase, there will be a canned food drive at the door. Each can you bring will garner one raffle ticket for a chance to win a $50 gift card to Longhorn Steakhouse of Salisbury. There is no raffle entry limit as they want to donate as many pounds of food as possible. This event is made possible by the Gerry Wood Auto Group, the Hot Dog Shack of Granite Quarry and Longhorn Steakhouse of Salisbury. A limited number of tickets are available now at rowanhelpingministries.org.

Don’t miss this exciting evening of music as we celebrate the season of giving to others! For more information, contact 704-798-5840.