On a chilly Monday evening before Thanksgiving break, members of the Berkeley Choirs boarded a bus and traveled to Amazing Love Ministries in Ybor City.
Amazing Love Ministries was founded in 2005 in Curtis Hixon Park to serve the homeless community there. Today, the ministry has moved to East Columbus Drive and offers numerous opportunities to those experiencing homelessness, including a food pantry, hot meals, clothing, hygiene services and church services. The ministry is rooted in the Christian faith, and its mission statement affirms that it aims to “provide support for the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of the people living in Tampa.”
Despite many students already traveling for the break, 21 singers from Berkeley Singers, Cantabella and Mello Divas made the trip to Amazing Love. They sang a variety of songs from their holiday repertoire, including “Amazing Grace,” “Carol of the Bells” and “Hallelujah,” as well as some all-time favorites such as “The Star Spangled Banner.”
When asked about why she chose to bring the choirs to Amazing Love, choral director Helen Westerfield said, “In the past, our choir was mostly inward-facing, centered on our own school. This year, I want to guide students toward community performances—especially for audiences who may not often experience live music—so they can discover how their singing can create meaningful connections with the broader world.”
After their performance, the singers helped other volunteers serve a hot meal to the gathered patrons. String lights and Christmas music on the radio helped create a lively atmosphere that was enjoyed by all.
The Berkeley choirs were the first choral program to sing at Amazing Love Ministries, and their performance was definitely a hit. “One lady walked up to the choir when they were singing one of the Christmas carols with tears streaming down her face and said it was ‘so, so beautiful,’ and she thanked us over and over again for coming! We knew our audience was extremely grateful – and it really felt like we were giving them a really meaningful gift,” said Westerfield. It seems that this was the first of many successful service trips for the Berkeley Choirs!
