Habitat for Humanity plans to "Raise the Roof" on Saturday.
This first-time benefit event offers a family-oriented evening of fun and entertainment beginning at 7 p.m. in the Alpena High School Auditorium. Musicians lined up to perform include Joe Brisson with Lloyd Douglas, Dean Johnston, Marge McConnell, Jimmy Schultz and Ron Cadarette. Specials guest performers are Skip Brown and Jeff Shea.
"We really hope it serves as a good awareness builder for Habitat and provides some wholesome entertainment for families," said Habitat Executive Director Mike Wilson.
Article Photos
The evening also will feature a Chinese auction of themed gift baskets and other donated items, a 50/50 drawing and light refreshments. Attendance is by free will donation.
"We're hoping to get a bunch of people in the audience," said Tim Bowen, organizer for the event. "We aren't limiting who can come and enjoy the concert with an admission fee. It's our hope that people come and enjoy the evening and show it by making a donation."
Bowen also said the Habitat board of directors is hoping the event proves successful enough to become the organization's annual signature fundraiser. This time around, Lafarge is serving as a major sponsor of Raise the Roof.
Bowen, who also serves as vice president of the board, ran across Brisson playing last year at the Posen Potato Festival and approached him about helping with a fundraiser for Habitat.
"Joe said he was all for it," Bowen said. "He does a lot for his church. He's very in-tune with what Habitat stands for. He agreed to get whoever he could to join him and donate their time."
Music performed by Brisson and company is expected to include a little of everything classic rock, country, blue grass, gospel and some original songs.
According to Wilson, Habitat has mapped out three goals for the year ahead. Proceeds from Raise the Roof will help to meet some of those goals, which are as follows:
Wilson said in recent years the local Habitat affiliate has moved more toward rehab and neighborhood revitalization, particularly with the City of Alpena's Vision 20/20 efforts to revitalize certain designated areas of the community.
As for the Brush with Kindness campaign, he said this is part of a national Habitat movement that seeks to help homeowners with specific construction projects such as building a handicap ramp to make a place wheelchair accessible.
"This is a ministry of reaching out to individuals wherever they are who have specific needs," Wilson said. "It speaks very loudly of the mission of Habitat and allows us to touch more families."
Such projects would be done on a referral basis and as funds became available.
To help make the third goal a reality, Wilson plans to reach out to the many churches in the area and see if they would be willing to partner together either with volunteer labor, monetary donations or donations of materials.
Habitat relies on volunteers and such donations to continue its good work in the community, but it also operates the ReStore on Chisholm Street.
"The ReStore is doing very well," Wilson said. "We do need donations it's that time of year. We did very well through most of the winter months, and now the inventory is a little less."
Items that the ReStore could use are good condition furniture and larger appliances, light fixtures, home decor items, carpet, floor covering and all types of building materials. Anyone with items to have picked up for donation may contact the ReStore at 354-5555.