‘Christmas’ comes early

The Hunger and Health Coalition is now offering “Christmas in the Mountains Vol. 5” at more than 70 locations in our area.

The $10 cost of the CD will help the coalition’s mission to end hunger in the High Country.

Executive director Compton Fortuna said $10 can help feed a family of four for one week.

“The number of clients we are working with is unprecedented,” she said. “One out of seven children in North Carolina goes hungry.”

“Christmas in the Mountains” is a community project, as the performers and project managers donate their time and talents, and more than 70 retail locations give up counter space to the sell the CDs.

The new album features “Can You Remember?” by Sound Traveler, “The Lights in Our Village” by the Kruger Brothers, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” by Alexis Worthington and Tyron Young, “Blue Christmas” by Matthew Weaver, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” by Jessica Presnell, “Judah’s Land” by the Blue Ridge Vocal Ensemble, “Silver Bells” by the Todd Wright Trio, “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” by Diana Wilcox, “Christmastime at Home” by Sharon Mitchell, “In the Bleak of Winter” by Steve and Ruth Smith, “Silent Night” by Andy Page and “Christmas Appalachian Style” by Amantha Mill.

For more information, call the Hunger and Health Coalition at (828) 262-1628. “Christmas in the Mountains Vol. 5” is available at the following locations:

Apple Hill Farm (Banner Elk, beginning in November), ArtWalk (Boone), Ashe County Cheese (West Jefferson), Bank of Granite (Boone), Bare Essentials Natural Market (Boone), Black Bear Books (Boone), Blowing Rock Carpet Service (Blowing Rock), Blowing Rock Market (Blowing Rock), The Blowing Rocket (Blowing Rock), Bob Timberlake Gallery (Blowing Rock), Boone Drug (all locations), Cabin Fever (Blowing Rock), Café Portofino (Boone), Carriage Trade Antiques (Blowing Rock), Changes Salon (Boone), Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff (Boone), Chetola Gift Shop (Blowing Rock), Christopher’s Wine and Cheese (Blowing Rock), Conrad’s Coffee (both Boone locations), Cornerstone Books (Boone), Cornett-Deal Christmas Tree Farm (Sugar Grove), Custard Depot (Boone), Dulcimer Shop (Blowing Rock), Everything Scottish (Linville), Foggy Rock Eater (Blowing Rock), Farming by Lori (Boone), Fred’s General Mercantile (Beech Mountain), Green Mother Goods (Boone), Harkins Insurance Agency (Boone), Hawthorne Chiropractic Center (Boone), Hunger and Health Coalition (Boone), Kilwin’s (both Blowing Rock locations), Libby’s (Jefferson), Mast General Store (Boone and Valle Crucis), Maw’s Produce (Foscoe), Meadowbrook Inn (Blowing Rock), Mike’s Inland Seafood (Boone), Monkee’s (Blowing Rock), Mountain Bagels (Boone), Mountain Home Music Christmas Show, Mountain Outfitters, Pappy’s Barbeque (Banner Elk), Pepper’s (Boone), Piedmont Federal (Boone), Poppy’s By Design (Blowing Rock), Revive Java Juice and Gelato (Blowing Rock), Rumple Presbyterian Church (Blowing Rock), The Shoppes at Farmers Hardware (Boone), South’s (Boone), St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (Blowing Rock), Stick Boy Bread Co. (Boone), Studio K (Boone), Summit Group Real Estate (Banner Elk), University Bookstore (Boone), Walgreen’s (Boone), West Jefferson Coffeehouse (West Jefferson), Western Carolina Eye Associates (Boone) and The Woodlands (Blowing Rock).