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PROVO — Local artists came together to host a food drive concert, as part of an effort to "Light the World."
This is the second year of the “Light the World” service initiative hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This year, there is an added focus on feeding the hungry. Musicians in Provo got involved in the campaign’s “Feed the Hungry” concert series with their own concert on Monday, Nov. 27.
“I was just thinking it would be awesome if we could bring all of these people together, and then hopefully unite them in a cause for something better,” said musician and actor Kelsey Edwards, who came up with the idea for the food drive concert.
At the concert, attendees were charged an entrance fee of four cans of food and everyone was encouraged to volunteer at the Food and Care Coalition.
“There were just cans … even before the concert started, there were just stacks of tons of cans of food. And so that’s all going to go toward people who are hungry,” said musician Ryan Rostrom. “I do a lot of concerts or dance parties where it’s just fun, but there’s nothing behind it …. So it was cool to do something toward a good cause.”
The Provo concert included performers such as Madilyn Paige, a former contestant on “The Voice,” Monica Moore Smith, a local actress and musician, and many others.
“I think what really makes a difference is when we get people out serving and making a difference. Whether that’s locally, whether that’s a concert, whether that’s just with your siblings … It can be something small, or big, or … anything!” Smith said. “This is what I do, I sing,” Smith said. “And if that can make one person smile, then I’m helping light the world.”
The concert series and initiative will be geared at helping people all over the world. According to Mormon Newsroom, LDS church members who have a significant social media following are working as “brand ambassadors” to promote the “Light the World” initiative, which focuses on giving acts of service during the countdown to Christmas.
“Music has really helped me to open my heart to look more outward and help more people,” said Nicole Sheahan, a singer-songwriter and participant in the initiative. “This is one way that I can do something little to help bring more light into the world.”
More concerts like this one are still to come during December. The Piano Guys will be playing in YouTube’s New York studio, and David Archuleta will be performing in Lima, Peru, as one of roughly 90 events to "feed the hungry."
Katie Embley is a BYU student, studying News Media and Spanish. Contact her at katie.sue.embley@gmail.com
