Concert in Westborough Supports Homeless Shelter

Just over a year ago, an area interfaith group housed local homeless families at "churches and temples for one to two weeks at a time," Shellie Rapson James recalls.

A fundraising concert in Westborough this Saturday night will happen four days before the first anniversary of the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Worcester's shelter opening at 91 June St., Worcester.

Singer/songwriter Carrie Newcomer performs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Congregational Church of Westborough.

Tickets are $20 at the door (cash or check only). Advanced tickets can also be purchased here: http://www.ihnworcester.org/concert/index.html.

The proceeds will support the new shelter.

"In looking for new fundraising events, the idea of a concert performed by an interfaith singer/songwriter took root because it aligned nicely with IHN’s overall mission of bringing people of different faith traditions together to help homeless families in Worcester County," Rapson James, the network advisory board's secretary, said in an e-mail interview.

"Our first concert was at the Congregational Church in Westborough last year, featuring David Wilcox and Nance Pettit. It was very well received and raised over $3,000 for our shelter, thus we felt we were on to something and decided to make it an annual event.

"We have over 30 network congregations supporting IHN, including First United Methodist Church of Westborough and The Congregational Church of Westborough.

"The Congregational Church eagerly offered to host the first concert when we were first discussing the idea, and agreed to host this year’s concert as well."

Westborough Patch
How much do organizers hope to raise from the concert?

Shellie Rapson James
We’re hoping to raise several thousand dollars – we have three corporate sponsors who have signed on to underwrite the costs of bringing Carrie Newcomer to Westborough: Fitts Insurance, FourStar Connections Inc. and Westborough-based Ball Financial Services Company. We also received a grant from the Westborough Cultural Council.

Westborough Patch
Who does the shelter serve?

The IHN serves homeless families in Worcester county, many of whom are single mothers with young children (currently we are sheltering 8 adults and 11 children, ranging from a newborn to 15 years in age). The IHN is one of the only family shelters in this area that puts no restrictions on family configuration or income.

As our board chair, the Rev. Dr Jan Gregory-Charpentier has said, "In the tight and unforgiving economic atmosphere we have been living through these last four to five years, it is not just unemployed or families on public assistance that have found themselves locked out of available affordable housing. But even working families, whose incomes used to be adequate to obtain entry level housing, are struggling to find safe, affordable, stable housing, and have been pushed to the risky margins of our economic map. The long-term answer is more and better affordable housing; the short term safety net for these families are the rare but essential services of places like the IHN of Greater Worcester. As people of faith from many backgrounds, we share a commitment to service and to compassion. We believe God asks us to do this work."

Westborough Patch
How does Carrie Newcomer's music tie in with the IHN's work?

Shellie Rapson James
Carrie Newcomer’s music has been described as “the intersection of the spiritual and the daily, the sacred and the ordinary.”

Carrie’s strong interfaith and ecumenical philosophy aligns perfectly with IHN’s mission of bringing people of all faiths together to overcome homelessness among some of the most vulnerable citizens of Worcester County. Carrie has received numerous musical and humanitarian awards for her work - we are thrilled to bring someone of Carrie’s notoriety to Westborough to support such an important cause.