"Assisting families and individuals of Delaware County in a collaborative effort by providing personal emergency assistance with dignity and respect in their time of need"
An April 19 concert and food drive by the Central Ohio Symphony not only helped restock Delaware
County's People in Need Inc. pantry, but it also appears to have set a national record. According to the League of American Orchestras, the 2,160 pounds of food and personal items and $500 in donations were the most raised in a single event by orchestras nationwide that participated in "Orchestras Feeding America." The charitable effort was keyed to the release of the film The Soloist, about a homeless musician. Sixty Central Ohio Symphony musicians, conductor Jaime MoralesMatos and student musicians from area high schools donated their services for the concert, which took place at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware. "Audience members showed up carrying boxes and sacks of food," said Warren W. Hyer, the symphony's executive director. Two other groups topped the amount raised by the Central Ohio Symphony, Hyer said, but they conducted ongoing campaigns or a series of concerts. "We did it all in one night," Hyer said.
