Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

FAIRFIELD – Jonas Magram’s Annual Children’s Holiday Benefit Concert set a record for raising just over its $45,000 goal, the most ever raised in the concert’s 30 years.

Held on Dec. 6 at Golden Magnolia Sanctuary in Fairfield and featuring the area’s top singers and musicians, the concert raises funds for four charities, and splits the proceeds equally among the four: Golden Magnolia Sanctuary Community Kitchen, SIEDA Community Action, the Ottumwa Crisis Center and Women’s Shelter, and Save the Children. Magram said the previous record of funds raised was $36,000, last year.

Tammy Haessler, director of Golden Magnolia Sanctuary, which was formed in 2021 inside the former First Presbyterian Church, said the check for $11,500 she received from this benefit concert was the single largest donation ever received for the Stone Soup Community Kitchen.

“This extraordinary generosity is helping us make much-needed improvements to our space and ensure we can continue keeping our kitchen stocked to serve nourishing meals each day,” Haessler said. “We are deeply moved by this expression of community care and support.”

Golden Magnolia Sanctuary hosts its Stone Soup Community Kitchen three nights per week, Thursday through Saturday, and Haessler said the free meal draws between 120-150 people each night. The soup kitchen’s first day was Aug. 10, 2022, so it has served about 19,000 meals since it opened over three years ago. Haessler said that doesn’t even count the meals the organization gives away through its Little Free Pantry, which includes a 24/7 refrigerator.

Magram said he wants to do even more for Golden Magnolia Sanctuary because he believes so strongly in its mission, and that’s why he’s organizing another concert on March 28 just for it. This fundraising gala will begin at 7:30 p.m. that day in Golden Magnolia, and feature at least 10 local performers including LeAnne Edgeton, Adrien Daller Logsdon, Ming Vierra, youngsters Sloane Brower and Vivian Miller, and many more.

Haessler said she removed the pews in the former church’s sanctuary, and this has freed up space to hold a large number of events including not just concerts like those mentioned but also the Southeast Iowa Chamber Singers, monthly Community Days, square dancing, tai chi, yoga, Sound Baths and skill-share classes. She said she hopes to host an art studio and music room, too.

Golden Magnolia Sanctuary’s board of directors consists of Werner Elmker, Phoenix Haessler, Cheyanne Holliday (kitchen manager) and Laura Sivels.