PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Southern gospel lovers will be in heaven Saturday, March 10 as the Aroostook County Habitat for Humanity will host a benefit concert at the Presque Isle Middle School Auditorium.
According to Adam Kohler, Habitat for Humanity volunteer, the Southern gospel music concert will be held at 6:30 p.m.
“After some minimal expenses, the proceeds will help us raise funds for our fifth housing project,” said Kohler. “We’re hoping we’ll be able to open up the application process this year, but we don’t know at this point. It’s too soon.”
Local group High Meadows will open the program. Other acts will include New Beginnings from Farmington and Golden Harmony from St. Stephen, New Brunswick.
“This is the first time we’ve had a gospel benefit concert,” Kohler said. “Last year we had a group of jugglers perform for us at the Caribou Performing Arts Center. I had suggested that we bring them back, but we can’t get them this year due to scheduling, so we looked at other benefits.
“I’ve been serving on the board of directors for Habitat – on and off – for about 10 years now,” he said, “and I’ve always wanted to see us sponsor a Southern gospel concert.”
Kohler began planning the concert four months ago.
“The board embraced the idea just before the holidays,” he said. “I met the group from Farmington when I was down at Blue Hill several years ago, and I had asked them to come up for a benefit last year, but we couldn’t get everything put together in time.
“When I got the green light to start planning the benefit concert this year, I put out phone calls to several groups, including New Beginnings, who agreed to come,” said Kohler. “They gave me the names of a few other groups and I called one of them, and Golden Harmony said they’d come, too. It should be a good concert.”
Aroostook County Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, Christian ecumenical organization whose mission is to build simple, decent, affordable housing in partnership with those in need. The house is sold to the family at no profit and no interest. The mortgages are used to build more homes.
Tickets, which are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, are available at Pieces of Eight and the Knitting Store in Presque Isle, York’s Book Store in Houlton, Harvest Market in Fort Fairfield and the Caribou One Stop. Tickets are also available from all board members.
“We’re excited about bringing this type of event to the local area,” Kohler said. “It should be a lot of fun.”
