As always, the only thing more spectacular about this place than its magnificent physical setting is the astounding generosity of its citizens.
Last night at Kaslo’s cozy, holiday season-bedecked BlueBelle Bistro, a standing-room crowd gathered to happily eat, drink, and merrily listen to us and guest artists Janet Mayfield & Joli Guthrie, Jeremy Taylor, Sonya Franke, Trish Feeney & Gary Schneider — The Lichens & Friends — all while reaching deep into their pockets to cough up cash for the Kaslo Food Hub’s annual Christmas Food Hamper program.
We went in hoping to raise $1,000, to ensure at least 70 area families can count on a turkey and all the trimmings on their holiday tables this year.
When the final notes of Honky Tonk Women (nice sing-along on the chorus, BTW) faded into the night and all the cash, cheques, and notes were carefully counted, turns out we’d raised a whopping $2,180!
Unbelievable.
So to every one of you who came out and showed your support, to you who did your bit to remind us all that in a world that sometimes seems as though it’s gone completely mad, there remain plenty of kind, gentle, and generous souls amongst us, our heartfelt thanks.
A huge tip of the Lichens sombrero to our musical pals who sang and played their hearts out in such a worthy cause. And of course our ongoing gratitude to the folks at the North Kootenay Lake Community Services Society for all they do throughout the year, and especially to the hard-working staff and volunteers at the Food Hub.
Dickens got it right — “God bless us, every one!”
The Lichens 