Food bank benefits from mass caroling

The event generated nearly 1,000 pounds of food for Second Harvest Food Bank
By KATIE LIBECCO
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- An attempt at the Chevrolet Centre to get into the Guinness Book of Records for the largest caroling service fell short, but it helped raise donations for Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley.
Chevrolet Centre officials estimated that the crowd Saturday was about 400 people. To break the world record, more than 3,800 people needed to sing continuously for 15 minutes.
"This is good exposure for the Youngstown Symphony Chorus, and we hope it will become an annual thing," said Barb Modic, a member of the chorus and its governing board.
Participants were asked to bring nonperishable food items and sign a form stating that they sang during the entire caroling service.
"We just wanted to do something good for the community and get everyone in the spirit," Modic said.
There's next year
Maxina Gohlke, Youngstown Symphony Chorus president, and Linda Rein, vice president and assistant conductor, said the chorus is planning another attempt at the record next year.
"This can easily become a yearly thing. A lot of communities have tried several times to break the record," Gohlke said.
Several of the participants were enthusiastic about the event, despite falling short.
"I think we did very well, but I need to practice my Christmas carols. I'm a bit rusty," participant Tim Ruffalo said with a laugh.
Ruffalo is the proprietor of Youngstown's Printz Mansion Bed and Breakfast.
"I'll do anything to support downtown Youngstown. I think it's important to get everyone together and get them in the spirit of Christmas. I'd like to have seen 5,000 people here today. Maybe next year," Ruffalo said.
Fowler Township resident Kim Weimer said she participated after hearing about the event on the radio, because it seemed like fun.
"I just wanted to be a part of this," Weimer said. "It's a shame we didn't break the record, but hopefully next time."
As the crowd sang, the scoreboard counted down the time remaining
Keep singing
One of the rules was that everyone had to continuously sing, providing only a breath between eight popular holiday songs. The crowd was lead by WKBN-TV27's Rob Schmidt. Two of the Lady SteelHounds and team mascot Crusher also participated.
"We just thought it'd be a nice thing to do for the community, and gather food for the Second Harvest Food Bank," Gohlke said. Participants donated just under 1,000 pounds of food.
The Youngstown Symphony Chorus will present "Our Holiday Greeting Card" Christmas concert at 4 p.m. today at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1429 Mahoning Ave. More information on the concert is available at www.ysc-online.org.