UL band, boosters March it Forward for New Year

BETHESDA -- The Union Local Band Boosters and band members will help welcome 2024 with meals and fellowship during the upcoming March it Forward program.

Alan Bretz of Bethesda is one of the organizers.

"This is our fourth year of doing it," he said, adding they began in 2019 but skipped 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our goal is to deliver 300 meals on New Year's Day to whoever wants a meal. It's the traditional pork and sauerkraut to kick off the New Year."

He said the dish is a source of fond memories.

"We always had pork and sauerkraut with grandma," he said. "It's a traditional New Year's meal."

Bretz said the community is responsive.

"We solicit donations from people who want to donate and help out. We solicit nominations or orders from people who want to receive a meal or to help someone else receive a meal, then we just get together on New Year's Day," Bretz said.

He said the program offers a chance for many to help.

"You've got people who are able to help by contributing money. You've got people who are able to help find other people to give the meals. You've got people who are able to help by volunteering, cooking the meals, delivering the meals, so it really broadens the spectrum of people who are able to participate. ... When people find out about it, they like to participate in it, and it becomes something that gives people the opportunity to do something nice for someone on New Year's."

He said the effort enjoys support from the village of Bethesda and Village Administrator, Dirk Davis.

"Dirk Davis out here in Bethesda lets us use the Community Room. We come there and we cook a bunch of pork loin and mashed potatoes and sauerkraut and put together the meals, then teams of band students deliver them all over the school district," Bretz said.

"The criteria for getting on the list is who wants a meal," he said. "Anybody who wants to donate can simply write a check and send it to the high school. Checks can be written to Union Local Band Boosters and then sent to the high school: Attention Band Director Thomas Swisher."

All of this year's orders are already in.

"We're actually hoping to have all the meal signups done by Christmas Day because we have to count up how many we end up with and buy all the food, buy it in bulk. Sometimes we need that lead time. We need that week leading up to it, to New Year's Day, to put everything together," he said.

Bretz said March it Forward has proven popular.

"I think we're going to hit our goal. We always shoot for 300 and last year we made it, and I think we'll get there again this year. But I hope the people who are nominating others for meals or the people who are signing up, I hope they're doing it just because it's a nice thing," he said.

He said the deliveries are also welcome during the holidays, which can be a lonely time.

"I know the kids always have fun delivering the meals, and I know people do have a very positive reaction to it," Bretz said. "When meals are delivered, people have a moment there with the kids and it brightens their day or otherwise makes them feel good."

He said this is also a bright spot for the band members

"They're a good bunch of kids, and it seems like they have a good time doing this," he said. "We never struggle to find volunteers."

Swisher commended the generosity and dedication of the boosters.

"It is really a great thing," he said. "I'm super-grateful for them. It's why we're able to do so many great things for the kids, these boosters. It's always nice to be able to do something for the community, especially this. ... It has a big impact on the community."