Local teen Amelia Clark recently raised over $1500 for The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal through her annual concert made up of friends, family, and community members.
What started as a small event at the local Salvation Army church is now a full concert at the Wehl Street Theatre which attracted around 100 audience members and 50 performers this year.
There were over 20 acts which were a mix of music and dance including bands, a timbral brigade, individual pianists and vocalists, troop dancers and dance soloists.
Miss Clark said she started the fundraiser to celebrate her birthday in 2015 at only 10-years-old.
“I decided to start doing this because I felt there were a lot of people in this community that were not getting the necessities,” she said.
“I thought that it would be a nice thing to raise money in any way I can to provide these people some support, food, shelter and company.
“The Red Shield Appeal cause goes directly into the Mount Gambier community, so it does not leave, and it makes sure that it goes to those specific people in need.”
Miss Clark said while the concert has previously been friends and family this year it was opened to the community.
“This year we have increased our music and dance sections,” she said.
“It started out at the Salvation Army hall, which was a little space out the front, in front of a lot of chairs, we were dancing on carpet and we had lots of musicians come in and do little performances.
“The last time we held the concert, which was two years ago, we changed it to the Wehl Street Theatre due to COVID restrictions and we needed to have spaces.
“Since then, I think we will keep it there because it has a bit more room and it allows our performers to grow.
“It has been a long journey, but I am proud of it.
“My vision was a big concert and that is pretty much where it is now.”
Miss Clark said she would like to thank everyone that donated including a plethora of local business.
“We had a lot of donations come in for the silent auction which we get from local businesses,” she said.
“We also have money which is like a gold coin donation as you walk through the door and some people tend to give more.”
