Serving Others
More than Music…
The motto of the Deer Creek Chorale (DCC) is Sing Locally, Give Globally. DCC charitable concerts have raised funds to support projects in our greater community and across the globe. Singers volunteer their time for our charitable partner projects as a way of giving back to the community. Our choirs develop a camaraderie by singing and working together, supporting our mission of choral artistry, personal enrichment and service.
2024-2025 Partner: Project C.U.R.E.
Project C.U.R.E delivers life-saving medical equipment, supplies and services to meet the needs of people in poverty, disasters and violence. At least 400 million people have no basic healthcare. Project C.U.R.E. has grown to become the world’s largest distributor of donated medical supplies, equipment, and services to healthcare professionals in more than 135 countries. DCC members supported Project C.U.R.E. by donating items and assembling 100 bags for their Kits for Kids campaign. Kits for Kids provides first aid and personal hygiene items to parents and caregivers in under-resourced communities. The program provides drawstring backpacks filled with personal hygiene and basic “medicine cabinet” items that are scare in the third world. Members also spent the afternoon at the Project C.U.R.E. warehouse in West Grove, PA getting a behind the scenes look and helping to sort donated medical supplies. www.projectcure.org
2023-2024 Partner: LASOS
LASOS, Inc. (Linking All So Others Succeed) in Harford County, Maryland, is a non-profit organization that offers adult literacy services that include English for Speakers of Other Languages and citizenship classes; a family literacy program that incorporates a ready-by-school initiative, an at-risk youth development program that supports academic, social, and emotional success; and connects members to Harford County’s network of service providers. DCC members donated over 170 pairs of pajamas in the fall to support LASOS’ December holiday event for kids in need and partnered further in the spring with a backpack and school supply drive.
2022-2023 Partner: Camp Sunrise
Camp Sunrise’s mission is to provide joyful and nurturing camping experiences that foster confidence, friendship, and fun for children and families on their cancer journey. Camp Sunrise, Inc. is in its 35th year! Each year they have three volunteer-driven, cost-free camping experiences for children with cancer and their siblings: Camp Sunrise, Camp SunSibs, and Camp at Hopkins. Camp Sunrise is supported by incredible volunteers, counselors, staff, medical staff, donors, charitable organizations, and families that continually work hard to help manage the camp and fulfill our commitment to providing campers with a safe, enjoyable, and stimulating camping experience. One hundred percent of Camp Sunrise donations are directed towards planning, managing, and operating our three camps. DCC members purchased items for luau-themed parties at camp for this past summer and were able to purchase dinosaur themed items for Camp SunSibs (for siblings of children with cancer) for the summer of 2023.
2021-2022 Partner: First Fruits Farm, Inc.
Rick and Carol Bernstein started gardening with their three children on a third of an acre at their former home in Parkton, selling the produce at a roadside stand and taking extras to their local food bank. For the Bernsteins, First Fruits — which takes its name from a Biblical reference calling for people to devote the “first fruits” of their labors to God — is an exercise in faith…that the seeds planted will produce fruit, that the helpers will come for planting and harvest, that the resources needed to support production will be there. With the help of private donations and grants from local foundations, First Fruits Farm, established in 2004, has grown to 172 acres and has donated more than 6 million pounds of produce over the past decade. The bounty has surpassed the Bernsteins’ expectations and has helped feed countless people through partnerships with food banks, Catholic Charities and other groups around the region. John May, Senior Vice President of Maryland Food Bank said because of price, fresh produce is generally “untouchable to the people that we serve…It’s the best nutrition-rich food that you can get, especially if it’s coming off a local farm. Poverty in itself creates health issues, so this is gold.” DCC choruses helped harvest on the farm in the fall of 2021 and plant in the spring of 2022. In keeping with the theme of nature’s bounty, the Fall 2021 concert was entitled “The Earth Provides” featuring the premiere of a work by local composer Preston Hutt and other music reflecting the joy of giving.
2020-2021 Partner: Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER
Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER is a grassroots, advocacy based, non-profit organization charged with protecting, conserving and restoring the Gunpowder River and its watershed. As a member of the WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE, they take a proactive role in safeguarding the river from threats to the health and stability of the watershed by conducting scientific monitoring. Deer Creek Chorale partnered with GRK by encouraging RIVERKEEPER membership to support their work and by facilitating education about the Gunpowder waterways through shared interview with Executive Director, Theaux LeGardeur. DCC members pledged through the GRK website in various ways to support water health from their homes and neighborhoods. DCC members engaged in Stream Walks that educated them about the value and state of health of our waterways and gave them opportunity to pick up debris to clean up stream banks. “Let the Music FLOW”, the theme of that year’s DCC season, focused on music that speaks to the beauty and value of our earth…source of life. DCC will continue to honor and support the work of GRK through song and as partner ‘river keepers’.
Past Community Outreach Projects
Camp Opportunity
Pennies for Peace
Alzheimer’s Awareness: Music and Memory
Habitat for Humanity, Susquehanna
Haiti’s Earthquake Relief Fund
Jackie McCosh Concert Fund
Betty Banghart Scholarship Fund
Johns Hopkins Camp Sunrise
Harford Family House
George Small Outreach Kenyan Educational Fund
Harford Center for the Visual and Performing Arts