Hymn sing draws big crowds; sets record for donations
Even the standing room was gone for this year’s Mrs. Edison’s Hymn Sing Tuesday, Feb. 3, at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Fort Myers. A record crowd of nearly 5,000 people attended the 20th Annual Mrs. Edison’s Hymn Sing. Many came from Lehigh Acres.
The Edison Festival of Light event was presented by First Presbyterian Church and sponsored by the Galloway Family of Dealerships to honor the work of Mina Edison, wife of inventor Thomas Edison. Former Lee County Commissioner Melvin Morgan also described Mrs. Edison’s involvement in the original Dunbar School.
Those who attended donated $10,662 and 4.5 tons of canned goods to benefit The Soup Kitchen of Community Cooperative Ministries, setting a record for gifts of both food and money.
“We are so thankful to the people of our community who stepped up in this time of great need to donate more than double what we received in financial contributions last year, and nearly 50 percent more food than last year. It truly shows the impact that a few people can make in the lives of many,” said Organizer Sam Galloway Jr.
Attendees sang hymns with the 60-member Sanctuary Choir of First Presbyterian Church and friends, were accompanied by a full symphonic orchestra to accommodate the large crowd, closed circuit televisions were set up in the church’s Fellowship Hall and the chapel