As a charitable organization, ShirleyArts! has always contributed to the well-being of the community.  In our early years, we did several concerts at the First Parish Meetinghouse and raised money for the maintenance of our oldest town building.  We also worked with the Meetinghouse folks and co-sponsored concerts by Rockapella and by Elizabeth von Trapp, splitting the work and the proceeds. 

For over 30 years, the Shirley Children’s Traveling Christmas Choir has been raising money for the Shirley Friendship Fund.  This choir is now run by ShirleyArts!.  This fund helps needy families at Christmas and throughout the year.  The Traveling Choir has sung at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Whiteley Park, on stage at the Bull Run Restaurant, at the Center Town Hall, at the United Church of Shirley, Rivercourt Assistive Living, and at the Mall at Whitney Field.  The kids have done a great job and their friends and relatives have been very supportive and generous.  The Annual Community Christmas Concert, including an adult choir, soloists, bell choir, dancers, and instrumentalists has raised money for Loaves and Fishes – our local food pantry.

As a certified non-profit corporation, ShirleyArts! has been able to serve as fiscal agent for two worthwhile community activities.  For many years, we have been instrumental in planning and performing at the Annual Town Tree Lighting and ShirleyFest (AKA All Town Hoe Down).  ShirleyArts! members work with other members of the community to organize, set up, and clean up after these events.  For the tree lighting, besides the tree, there is also music by Nashoba Valley Concert Band, singing by the Children's Touring Christmas Choir, Santa arriving on a fire truck, hot chocolate by the Venture Scouts, roasting marshmallows, and other activities by other Scout groups.  ShirleyFest includes music and dance performances by local amateur and professional groups, food sales by local non-profit organizations, children's activities and dozens of sales and information booths, supported by  Massachusetts Cultural Council Festivals grant.  If anyone wants to volunteer to help with the Tree Lighting or ShirleyFest, please contact us.  You do not need to be a member to help out.  

We have had talent shows at Lura A. White School to benefit the PTO and to help build their new playground.  Our instruments, music library, and keyboard are used in after-school programs.  We have purchased sound equipment, stage curtains, and keyboards to use at both LAW and the Ayer-Shirley Regional Middle School.  We have served as theater consultants and theater program support at both locations.  We have brought in guest performers to each location.  We offer their students a variety of low-cost music and theater opportunities.  It is a wonderful cooperative relationship which we hope will continue for many years.

Please reach out if you know additional ways in which we can help.