Live music, a Chinese auction, and community support came together Saturday as A Hand Up Erie held its final fundraiser of the year at the American Legion Post in Fairview.
The Bill and Bob Music Fest brought concertgoers together to enjoy live performances while raising money for the local nonprofit.
Mark Ericson, Executive Director of A Hand Up Erie, said the event has grown significantly since last year.
“The community keeps growing bigger and bigger for us. We grow every year. This festival last year was maybe half, two thirds of the size of this year.”
A Hand Up Erie provides household items to people who need them, including furniture, dishes, silverware, and small kitchen appliances.
For attendees, the fundraiser offered an opportunity to support the organization while spending time with friends, meeting new people, and enjoying live music.
“It’s absolutely wonderful to have community events, and people get together, and we met new people today, and we’ve seen old friends,” concert attendee Susan Zearfoss said.
Zearfoss said she and others also contributed to the fundraiser by donating items and participating in the Chinese auction.
“It’s for a good cause, and we brought our set of sheets, brand new and stuff, and we joined in with the Chinese auction,” she said. “Bought a lot of tip boards. Didn’t win anything, but we’re hoping. Loads of people were here and the bands were great, and we enjoyed ourselves.”
Organizers say the Bill and Bob Music Fest is expected to return in future years.
“We’re so appreciative of all of our sponsors and the original Bill and Bob Fest that got us involved in having a music festival,” Ericson said. “We hope to continue it for years to come.”
A Hand Up Erie is currently not accepting large furniture donations because of limited warehouse space. The organization plans to resume accepting those items when space permits.
Smaller household items are still being accepted.
For more information about how to support A Hand Up Erie, visit the link below: