The Bella Voce choir is starting off this holiday season by helping the less fortunate in the community. Donated clothing, hygiene products, and canned goods will be delivered by the choir to families and individuals in need across Northern Colorado. 

About ten years ago, choir director Christina Contreras organized the clothing drive with the Bella Voce choir in order to fulfill the calling to help the less fortunate. “We are called to help the less fortunate, and I really believe that, so I brought the idea of the care packages to the Bella Voce choir at the time, and we began the tradition,” Contreras said. Every year, participation has increased, and more community members are getting involved. This year, the Bank of Colorado has donated $200 and Heritage Market gave a gift-card of $200. 

The items that students can bring include non perishable and easy to access food, water, toiletry items, warm socks, gloves, scarves, coats and sweatshirts, and warm clothes. Any donation goes to an individual or family in need. Contreras said, “Whenever we see those less fortunate on the street, some people are a little bit skeptical about giving money because they aren’t sure where that money is going to go, but some people are really in a rough spot in their life, so a care package would be really helpful.” 

Bags will be filled with a variety of goods assembled by the girls on December 17, and they will put the final packages in their car to give to those in need. The girls are willing and glad to help others. Aria Daniels (22), a first year member of Bella Voce, said, “In the same way we want to be helped, we should help others who are going through possibly the worst time of their life. It is always important to help out.” 

The remaining bags will be donated by the choir to local churches to be given to their families in need.