Caught Between a ROCK and a HEART PLACE

Rockin', Rolling and Reaching Out in Red Bank

Holiday Express rolls into Red Bank on Tuesday and Thursday this week to put on two fundraising concerts to the general public. Proceeds from the shows support the year-long efforts of the organization.

An article in the Red Bank Orbit today eloquently describes the private shows they put on in the 30 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas:

We’ve said this several times before, but it bears repeating that for many people, McLoone and his organization have come to represent a Good Neighbor Sam kind of America that many refused to believe had died; a place where artificial divisions of class, creed and corrosive ideology break down — and where even as goofy a tune as “Disco Santa” can itself break down all resistance with its message of brotherhood and generosity of spirit.

That's the spirit captured in ROCK and a HEART PLACE and the documentary is being used as an example of voluntarism and grass roots organizing by individuals and civic organizations across the country.

If you can, get over to the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank and watch a great Christmas concert by some of the Jersey Shore's top musicians. It'll be a show you won't forget.

-Michael

The Christmas Countdown Begins . . . . . .

Another Holiday Express season begins, and with 52 events planned, the only way to get them all in before Christmas is to start…before Thanksgiving.  Fortunately for Holiday Express, they have the people power to start strong and go long.  Holiday Express - the focus of our documentary, ROCK and a HEART PLACE - is a classic, grass-roots organization that started over 15 years ago with nothing more than a dream.  Today with hundreds of volunteers, they continue to work their mission statement, which is to “deliver the gift of human kindness.”  Keeping the seasoned veterans while soliciting new volunteers is easy once they catch the true “meaning of life” feeling contagious in the joyful audiences at the many events. 

One of the reasons ROCK and a HEART PLACE stays relevant is that there is a connection between the viewer, the audience member and the volunteer. The common denominator in life no matter how different the circumstances is the sincere interest in another person’s existence for no other reason but to share a moment in time.

We are looking at a particularly difficult economic time ahead and those at the bottom are always going to feel it the worst.  Holiday Express gives anyone an outlet to do something about feelings of helplessness in light of needs so great.  They do it one-on-one, and for a brief time, bring some comfort to those who need it the most. 

This year, in the midst of the continuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, one of the events on the schedule is going to be for the families of our soldiers.  The site for this event is none other than Asbury Park’s Convention Hall, a space graciously offered by Madison Marquette, the developer responsible for so much of the resurgence of the AP boardwalk this year.

With the thoughts of bail outs rippling through the consciousness of anyone aware of the situation in the marketplace, Holiday Express begins again to bail out our little corner of the world, touching those here in NJ, but resonating with our troops, half way round the world.  Santa has to be proud.

-Nancy

ROCK out the cold

Hello all you rockin' elves out there! Here's a reminder that Holiday Express has scheduled their 2008 season public shows - one is at the NJ Performing Arts Center in Newark on December 10th and there will be two shows at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank on December 16th and 18th. Click on the links and order tickets. The shows are great - you can see examples of the performances in
ROCK and a HEART PLACE, of course!

Christmas Gift Idea - give tickets to any one of the shows as Christmas Gifts to friends, family or general Grinch's in you life. They'll be thanking you all year long.

And since these are benefit concerts, your gift will keep giving all year long by helping to support Holiday Express.

-Michael