Giving Back with Music and More
For many people the season of giving means heading to the mall for the perfect gift, but for Rivers students it’s a time to give back to those less fortunate in ways that are personally meaningful to them. For Rivers’ a cappella singers, that means hosting a fundraiser this Saturday, December 9, to raise money for hurricane relief.
The a cappella showcase will be held in the Campus Center at 7:00 p.m. and will feature Rivers’ co-ed and female singing groups as well as groups from Weston High School, Cambridge School of Weston, BB&N, and Lexington High School. Also appearing will be Red Line, featuring Rivers’ own Mr. Bowers, and a group from Dartmouth College.
“The money raised at the concert is going to a charity called Direct Relief,” said member Sara Stephenson ’18. “We're focusing on their programs supporting hurricane relief for victims of Hurricane Harvey and Irma. Later in the year, we’re hoping to organize additional community performances.”
Already this year, Rivers musicians have reached out to support the community in a number of ways. Setting the stage—literally—for a month of service activities were members of Rivers’ Conservatory Program, who hosted a concert on November 18 in Bradley Hall to benefit the food pantry at “A Place to Turn” in Natick.
The concert was organized in collaboration with Music for Food, a non-profit based in Boston that pairs performers with local food pantries to fight hunger in the community. The program featured Middle and Upper School Conservatory Program musicians in classical, jazz, and vocal ensembles, with all of the proceeds from the concert going directly to the Natick pantry with which Rivers has had a long association.
In addition, musicians from the Middle School and Upper School Conservatory Programs performed at the Sunrise Senior Center of Wayland and the Elizabeth Seton Residence, and senior citizens from local senior centers enjoyed mid-day concerts in Bradley Hall with the Upper School Choruses and the Big Band. On December 7, the Middle School Chorus and Chamber Ensemble will do their part by performing at a local senior center.
Rivers’ students are also giving back in more traditional ways. Members of the Middle School Community Service Club volunteered at the Natick Service Council, unloading Thanksgiving dinners that were donated for families served by the Council. They also visited the Natick Community Organic Farm to help with afternoon animal chores, such as cleaning the turkey house and milking the goats. Between now and the winter break, the Service Club will also sponsor 10 children and 10 elders through their holiday gifts program—coordinating and organizing all the gifts that are donated before bringing them to the Natick Service Council for distribution.
Returning from Thanksgiving break, faculty and students were tempted by an array of goodies for sale by members of the Upper School Family Promise Club. Launched by Sarah Bargamian ’18 and Stephanie Daley ’19, the club’s goal is to bring the mission of Family Promise to Rivers and support the organization’s efforts to combat homelessness in the Metrowest region.
“The money we raised will go toward buying each child at the Family Promise shelter a holiday bag filled with small presents,” said Sarah. “As a club, we will decide what to fill the bags with, possibly with gift cards or school supplies that are popular among middle school students. We will also have a stand at the Family Promise holiday party on December 10, with some popsicle stick crafts for the kids to do.
“There are about 30 students in the club—some come to weekly meetings while others have other commitments but help out when they can. We recently volunteered at a large Family Promise fundraiser where many members of the club sold raffle tickets to raise money for the non-profit. A few of us volunteer regularly with the club and we hope to serve dinners as a club at Family Promise in the future. Some members of the club have helped out as teen helpers, playing with kids from two years old through middle school, so the parents can do work or take a break.
“Family Promise started as my RISE project in tenth grade and Stephanie continued the idea for her RISE project. I have met many incredible children at Family Promise who are always so welcoming when we come to see them. It has been an opportunity to give back to the community and educate ourselves about the challenges many children face in Massachusetts.”
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