The community was treated to an acoustic performance by Abbotsford-based country singer Stacey McKitrick last Friday afternoon, as part of a fundraiser for Agassiz Harrison Community Services.
And in return, the community helped stock the shelves for the food bank, which is run through AHCS.
"They gathered a truckload of donations," McKitrick said.
"I was completely shocked. It was unbelievable, for being in a small setting, in a small community."
The performance and fundraiser was held at the Agassiz Chiropractic Centre, in the District of Kent's Fitness/ Activity Centre.
"It was just me and my guitar player, and we went out and performed two half-hour acoustic sets," she said, mixing up Christmas standards with music off her self-titled, debut album.
The fundraiser was organized by Agassiz Chiropractic, who promised to match the donations brought in.
And that truckload? It was actually two truckloads by the end of the day, which translated into a cheque for $775.
Being able to perform at a fundraiser isn't just a joy for McKitrick, it's how she got her start in the music business.
At the age of nine, she was combing the newspapers and calling the city (Abbotsford) to see what fundraisers were going on each weekend. And then, she'd offered to sing.
"It was something I really loved to do," she said. "I love the spotlight from a young age, and my parents always told me if you want to make something happen you can make it happen. But you have to put in the hard work and be determined."
Her next fundraiser is a Cans for Kids event at Seven Oaks Shopping Centre, Thursday, Dec. 22 at 4 p.m. She'll be singing, and helping collect money and non-perishable food for the Abbotsford Food Bank. The sales of her CDs at the event will also go toward the fundraiser.
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