Embers warm the Christmas spirit
By Melinda Harrell
Published in News on December 19, 2017 5:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
The Embers perform during their annual Christmas Concert Monday night at the Paramount Theatre. Money raised from the concert benefits The Empty Stocking Fund, which provided a toy and clothing to more than 400 area children.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
The Embers perform during their annual Christmas Concert Monday night at the Paramount Theatre. Money raised from the concert benefits The Empty Stocking Fund, which provided a toy and clothing to more than 400 area children.
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Craig Woolard interacts with the crowd during Monday night's concert.
The Goldsboro News-Argus' Empty Stocking Fund is a century-old tradition, created to provide a better Christmas to Wayne County children through gifts of toys, clothing and goodie bags.
Luke Vail, radio host for 107.9 WNCT, took the stage just before the Embers were to perform to remind the audience of what the meaning their contribution was.
"Just about two weeks ago, more than 450 kids got a chance to have a special Christmas," Vail said of the Empty Stocking Fund Party held at Goldsboro High School on Dec. 9. It was then that hundreds of children sorted through the various toys available -- picking one out, receiving new outfits and goodies and getting a picture taken with Santa Claus.
"And that is what it is all about. It really brings Christmas true to your heart."
For some of the Wayne County Fire Explorers, the opportunity to give back to the community was something they could not resist.
"I wanted to help my group and have always been interested in helping my city," said Faith Bullard, 15, a student at Wayne School of Engineering, in between ushering guests to their seats.
Laticia Lara, 17, a Southern Wayne High School student, said with a smile that she was helping elderly people to their seats just before the concert began.
"It makes me feel good, because I am doing it for a good cause," Lara said.
And though the Embers Christmas Concert is a chance to help local children and give back to the community at large, it is still a simple good time.
Janice and Edna Simmons, of Goldsboro, settled into their floor seats closer to the back doors of the theatre looking to the stage for the concert to begin.
"(Edna) enjoyed going last year," Janice Simmons said, "It has nice tunes and it is family-oriented."
As the lights went down and the hushed murmuring of the crowd subsided, The Embers, decked out in snow-white suits and surrounded by Christmas-themed props, opened the show with the booming strains of a trumpet and trombone, putting a bow on the Empty Stocking Fund's capstone fundraising event.