An evening of music in London will help get clean water into the hands of Flint, Michigan residents.
The Salvation Army London Citadel has announced a benefit concert for February 4. The concert will raise money for the 100,000 people in Flint who are dealing with a public health crisis due to high levels of lead in the town's drinking water.
Citadel Bandmaster John Lam says the group felt a strong need to help.
"We have always had close ties with a similar church to ours in Flint, Michigan and we have been watching with grave concern what has been going on with the water crisis," says Lam. "One of the members of our band emailed one night and said we need to do something for them and we all agreed."
The concert, which will be held at the church at 555 Springbank Dr., will feature performances by the London Citadel Band, London Citadel Songsters, London Citadel Timbrels, and a few to-be-announced soloists.
"We are hoping to get a couple hundred people," says Lam. "The church holds over 300 people. We will pack them in. If you show up, we will find you a place to sit."
Admission is by donation, with all proceeds going to the Salvation Army in Flint to aid in its efforts to supply water to the residents of the city.
The London Citadel Band is known for its annual December Festival of Carols at Centennial Hall.
London's Salvation Army isn't the first Canadian organization to offer support to Flint. Ahead of their January 21 game against the Flint Firebirds, the Winder Spitfires organized a bottled water drive for the hard hit town. More than 50,000 bottles were donated.
More information about the benefit concert can be found at www.londoncitadelband.on.ca.