Keeping hope alive for the holidays

The second annual Hope for the Holidays, sponsored by Weber State University’s student-run KWCR 88.1 radio station, was held last week to help raise money and donate food for the Ogden Rescue Mission.
Mike Adams, KWCR station manager, said the benefit concert held last Saturday was good “but it wasn’t nearly what we expected.” From a goal preset by the radio station of $1,000, only $234 was raised at the concert. One hundred percent of the proceeds went directly to help those in need.
“It was a humbling experience dropping off the money to the Rescue Mission,” Adams said. “We saw people sleeping anywhere there was a space on the ground. If anything, this event has made me more grateful for what I have.”
The radio station helped fill 103 bags of food at Macey’s grocery store on 36th St. a week before. Each of those bags had a complete dinner minus the turkey. Every bag went to a family in need for the holidays.
The Ogden Rescue Mission is more than a homeless shelter; it serves over 100,000 meals a year, and the number is growing this year. It also has 90 places to sleep for those that have no roof over their heads. But there are people sleeping in the halls and doorways on mats because there is no more room at the rescue.
The concert featured local bands. Charging Frederick started off the night, followed by the Blue Storks, The Champion Theory and Gorgeous Hussies. It was held in the Basement on 329 24th St. in Ogden. The owner of the Basement, Jason Allen, who only opened his venue in October, let 88.1 use the venue for free. He said he hopes he will be able to run a recording station and have local bands play each weekend.
“We are new and wanted to get our name out there, but even more I wanted to help out the community, and helping out the Ogden Rescue Mission is a good cause,” Allen said.
Brent Larsen, a WSU alumnus, volunteered his time for the event.
“Jason asked for some help, and here I am volunteering, because I think it’s a great cause that WSU is doing,” he said. “I hope Weber State does this every year.”
Wyatt Winnie, a senior and English major who was at the event on Saturday, said it was nice to see the community come together and help people out, plus see a new establishment give up their income on a Saturday night. That’s more of a testament to people out there willing to help the community.
The Ogden Rescue Mission is still taking donations of money or food. There is still time to help those in need for the holidays. For any information on the bands that played Saturday night or the Ogden Rescue Mission, contact Jason Adams at KWCR 801-626-7424 or the Ogden Rescue Mission at 2775 Wall Avenue, Ogden, or by phone at (801) 621-4360.