Morning Star Boys Offer Caroling Cheer
During the holidays, cheery tunes at the doorstep can put a blustery winter day in proper Christmas perspective.
For people in Spokane who aren’t privileged with a doorstep, however, caroling might not be an option if not for the Morning Star Boys Ranch.
For more than three decades, boys living at the ranch have caroled at retirement and post-hospital care centers throughout Spokane.
“It brings so much happiness and joy to those folks,” Morning Star director Buck Rogers said. “And it’s a great way for the boys to give back to the community.
“Caroling teaches them about giving something back and respect for older people.”
The ranch, located on 37th and Glenrose, houses 21 boys at a time who, as Rogers put it, “went astray.” The boys are typically at-risk youth who are referred to the center by the state, school or even parents. Some of the kids are orphans.
The ranch gives them room, board, and schooling while ranch staff attempt to get them appropriate community care. Boys may stay at the facility until they are 18.
The tradition of caroling was started by South Hill residents Ron and Marsha Feller 34 years ago. The couple rounded up a choir of boys and began working with them after Thanksgiving.
As soon as the boys have a repertoire of songs, Rogers said, they begin performing.
“They work hard at getting the program down,” he said.
To date this year, they have performed 45-minute caroling programs in seven places, including St. Luke’s Extended Care Center and Valley View Retirement Center, and they sometimes perform twice in one day. The boys sing Christmas classics like “Jingle Bells” and “Old Saint Nick,” then Marsha Feller tells a story.
Afterward the boys enjoy cookies and punch and visit with their audience.
“Pretty much the best part is to look at the audience and see them smiling,” said 11-year-old John Wessels. He has been at the ranch for about five months and likely will be there until he turns 18.
He said that he’s sung at school before, so the practices were not challenging.
“The caroling is just fun,” he said.