LORENA BENIQUEZ/Sun-Gazette Correspondent In the background, Major Sheryl Hershey, the Salvation Army’s corps commanding officer in Williamsport, is seen here conducting students from the Youth Music and Fun Program.

Williamsport’s Salvation Army will hold its Fall Harvest Concert today at 7 p.m. in their chapel at 457 Market Street. The free concert is open to the public and will feature students from their Youth Music and Fun Program performing dance, music and drama.

“Everyone knows that we do the kettles and we have thrift stores and social service assistance but they don’t know that there is more to the Salvation Army,” said Lieutenant Nicole Fullop, assistant corps officer with the non-profit Christian organization.

Williamsport girls and boys aged 7-16 years old take drama, singing, dancing, music theory and band classes for free. To prevent any financial barriers from participation, instruments are also provided free.

With less than a week to the performance, the band was rehearsing. Major Sheryl Hershey, corps commanding officer, was conducting the musicians.

She said, “We choose only songs that are church songs on our horns and we sing songs that we have heard in worship. They are singing Christian words and dancing to Christian words. For drama, they are using a portion of scripture to act it out.”

After the musicians departed the chapel, the dance group took to the altar’s stage to practice a routine to a contemporary Christian song. They are led by Emily Fullop, a 17 year old Williamsport High School student. Fullop choreographed the routine and then taught it to her eager students. Even though she doesn’t consider herself a dancer, she has embraced her volunteer role.

“I definitely think it is a big responsibility and I love these girls until the end of time. They give me blessings every week,” said Emily, who is Nicole’s daughter. Emily spent her younger years participating in Salvation Army programs and attending church.

Hershey said of Emily’s work, “We didn’t have a dance teacher. The girls wanted her to teach the dance class and she is doing such a wonderful job at it. The other teachers couldn’t get them as advanced as they are now. She can keep their attention and picks music they like.”

Hershey, who plays coronet and alto horn, founded the Youth Music and Fun Program five years ago because of her love for music.

“I was brought to the Salvation Army through music programs,” said Hershey. “We do concerts twice a year and participate in the Salvation Army’s Star Search. That is where we travel to different Salvation Armies locally and compete. Then, if they win, they will travel to Hershey and compete there.”

Emily has actually competed in Star Search as a dancer and plans to compete this year in the drama portion, should the group make it that far. For now though, she is focused on the upcoming performance.

“I am looking forward to seeing all the kids’ hard work pay off. This is a team effort and each person has a part and every part is important and those pieces make it come together.

I personally like sharing the gifts that God gave me. I get a bunch of happy little kids,” said Emily.

Emily’s mother Nicole added, “I am hoping that it will help them to see the gifts that they have and they can believe in themselves and that they can do anything that they put their minds to.”

“They love that their families are showing up to hear them and they know that they are proud of them. It’s like the biggest thing to them,” said Hershey.

Following the hour-long performance, the public is invited to take part in what Hershey dubbed “Pie and Praise.” Performers and audience members will celebrate with pies and other sweet treats.

For more information about the Youth Music and Fun Program or the Salvation Army, visit https://pa.salvationarmy.org/williamsport-pa.