Disciple: Bishops’ Ball Responds to Hurricane Relief
The youth will dance, and you can help
By Christine McTaggart
Service projects at the annual Bishops’ Ball are nothing new; they are a much as part of the tradition as games, worship and hitting the dance floor with our bishops. But at this year’s Bishops’ Ball February 23-25, the attending youth are taking it up a notch as they turn the spotlight event into a fundraiser for hurricane relief.
The traditional Saturday night dance will instead be a Dance-A-Thon, with all pledges and donations going to Episcopal Relief and Development’s Hurricane Relief fund to support recovery efforts in all areas affected by the storms of 2017.
“Our youth have really enjoyed past service projects for Stop Hunger Now [now Rise Against Hunger] and others,” said Beth Crow, diocesan lead youth missioner. “We normally propose the project, but this year, they came to us early on to ask if they could work toward hurricane relief. They were really moved by those affected by all the storms, and they wanted to help.”
The youth team leaders involved in planning Bishops’ Ball have been hard at work since early December, creating videos and turning to social media to get the word out.
“We’re really proud of the work they’re doing,” said Crow. “They’ve just taken this effort and run with it, and the approach they’ve taken has expanded this initiative far beyond Bishops’ Ball weekend.”
Participants in the Dance-A-Thon began gathering pledges and donations in early December, and they’ll continue to do so until the start of Bishops’ Ball on February 23. They’ve set a goal of raising $5,000, and anyone wishing to support the endeavor can either make a pledge per dance or offer a flat donation. Help can also be offered by sharing the pledge link and using #BBDance-A-Thon on social media.
Bishops’ Ball is an annual weekend retreat for middle and high-school youth, planned and led by youth members of the Chartered Committee for Youth (CCY). Filled with activities, workshops, worship, conversation and, of course, the dance, its goal is to help diocesan youth explore and develop the spiritual facet of their lives. This year’s theme is “One Body, Many Hearts.”
“The youth of our diocese have already transformed ‘One Body, Many Hearts’ from a theme into reality,” said Crow. “They are a living example of what can happen when many hearts and hands come together in a common effort.”
All are welcome to be a part of it. The links for pledges and donations are up and active. Registration is open to attend Bishops’ Ball. Whether as a supporter or a participant, you are invited to be a part of it!
Christine McTaggart is the communications director for the Diocses of North Carolina.
