A magical Christmas concert in support of the St. Marys Library Pantry

The Harmony of Friends will be performing No Room at the Inn at the St. Marys Presbyterian Church Dec. 13. Pictured from left to right are Nicole Malcho on keyboards and vocals, Mary Stanamen on mandolin and vocals, Christina Costanzo on vocals, Nicholas Donati on percussion, Tom Donati on guitar and vocals, Lana Coghill on bass guitar and vocals, Joan Smith on keyboard and vocals, and Bob Poirier on guitar and vocals.

By Julia Paul

On Friday, Dec. 13, Harmony of Friends will perform in a cinematic Christmas concert with all proceeds going directly to the St. Marys Library Pantry.

No Room at The Inn is a multimedia concert with music, singing, videography and acting. The concert revolves around the perspectives of Joseph, Mary and the Innkeeper of one of the most popular Christmas stories of all time.

“We guarantee that by the end of the evening, everyone will be in the Christmas spirit,” said Tom Donati, band member with Harmony of Friends. For the night to be a successful one, we need a great attendance and generosity.”

Last year, Harmony of Friends performed a similar concert and raised over $2,000 for the St. Marys Library Pantry. This year, they are hoping to be just as or even more successful with the support of the community.

The St. Marys Library Pantry was started in 2022 when it became apparent homelessness and food insecurity were increasing issues for the people of St. Marys. The pantry has evolved over the years to meet the needs of the community. From snack items to bags of groceries and gift cards, feminine hygiene products and incontinence products, the St. Marys Library Pantry provides free access to items some people cannot afford.

“We’re mostly asking for smaller snack items or 10 of an item,” said Rebecca Webb, services coordinator with the St. Marys Library. “We will still take individual items, but what we are asking for are a box of granola bars that has 10 in it, or apple sauces or things like lunch snacks. We also give out gift cards. We find that there is a real immediate need for folks who are hungry in the moment, and so they are looking to find some food that they can find to eat now, so that’s part of why we ask for those snack items. But we are also giving out gift cards and we are asking for donations of gift cards in the amount of about $15 so that those folks can actually walk over to Tim Hortons or McDonalds or they can go to Foodland and get a few things to eat now to feed that hunger that’s immediate.”

To help support the St. Marys Library Pantry, join the Harmony of Friends Christmas concert on Friday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. at the St. Marys Presbyterian Church to make a financial donation and get in the Christmas spirit. Food donations are also accepted and encouraged at the St. Marys Library.