Memorial youth raise more than $5K through ‘Dinner with the Stars’

GREER—When the youth of Memorial United Methodist Church were tasked with hosting a fundraiser to help supplement the cost of their annual fall retreat, they quickly put their heads together. Soon they came back with, “We have an idea!”

They wanted to host their own twist of a dinner performance and call it “Dinner with the Stars,” with members of their own church performing as well-known singers of the past and present. Since part of their retreat each fall includes a day spent at Dollywood, the first act they lined up was a Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers medley. Not to be left out were Elvis Presley, Vanilla Ice, Shania Twain, Justin Timberlake and Donna and the Dynamos from “Mamma Mia.” With full costumes and glam for everyone, the show was emceed by two youth parents.

“It took many hands to pull off an event like this, especially having never done anything like it before, but as always, our church family stepped up and came together in the support of our youth,” said Lainey Hannon, director of youth ministries.

With great thanks to the generosity of youth parents and Cafe on Trade, a local cafe in downtown Greer, a spaghetti dinner was provided to the entire audience at no cost from the proceeds raised throughout the evening. Volunteers came to help set up and decorate the gym as it transformed into a full red-carpet affair complete with a sound and video production team.

“Oh what a night!” said Katie Jeter, youth parent and director of children’s ministries. “As a staff member, I was blessed beyond measure to see our church family and community come together for an event unlike anything we had ever done before and that was so much fun for everyone. As a participant, I was humbled. We will truly do anything to show our love and support of the youth ministry of our church. And, as a youth parent, I was proud.

“From my spot on the stage, seeing the youth serve with smiles and participate with gladness as their church supported them wholeheartedly, it made me emotional in the best way.”

It was the fellowship their congregation needed and a reminder of a hopeful future everyone needed. The youth finished the night with a surprise for the audience as they jumped into the final act of the show.

They celebrated raising more than $5,500 by the end of the evening.

Dinner with the Stars turned out to be a night that Memorial UMC and the community of Greer will never forget.

“There are few things I’m more confident in than the ability of our youth to lead our church into the future,” Hannon said. “They are creative, determined, prayerful and, above all else, they have faith that will move mountains. No obstacle is too small for them to conquer when they come together.”