Singing and Serving – Our Dual Mission

When Marty Banghart established Deer Creek Chorale 20 years ago, she did so with a dual mission. This would not be just a singing organization, but also a serving one. Every year, DCC chooses one or more non-profit organizations to support through their time and talent. This year we were able to partner with three local organizations:

• The Human Society of Harford County – Members held a pet supply drive and concert goers who attended “When Icicles Hang” were also encouraged to bring supplies to donate. Together we were able to provide two trunks full of resources for pets in need.

• Chestnut Grove Blessings Bags – Chestnut Grove Presbyterian Church is our host church for Tuesday rehearsals. Their Blessing Bags ministry supports local families in need by providing a bag full of groceries and a gift card to a local supermarket. In February, DCC took on the goal of providing resources to fill 10 bags for 10 families and raising $400 in additional gift cards to restock the Mission Committee’s supply. Through the generosity of the DCC family, enough food was collected to fill more than 12 bags and $700 in gift cards was donated!
• Irvine Nature Center – Tying into our spring concert theme “Echoes of the Earth,” a group of DCC and DCYC members spent an April afternoon serving at Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills. Volunteers assisted in trail maintenance by removing invasive wild garlic. They learned it attracts butterflies but has toxic compounds that kills the larvae and that the plant chokes out native wildflowers needed for nectar.