Sound Shore

A benefit concert featuring performances by the New York Festival Singers and Bethesda Baptist Church Choir will take place this Saturday, April 30 from 6:00 – 9:00PM, at the Bethesda Baptist Church, located at 71 Lincoln Ave., New Rochelle, NY 10801. Tickets cost $15.

The event is one of three being organized with the help of ShopRite Supermarkets to benefit the Union Baptist Church congregation after a Valentine’s Day fire destroyed their downtown sanctuary. An earlier concert was held last Saturday. There is also a “Taking Steps to Rebuild Benefit 5K Walk-a-Thon” on June 5, starting at 8:00AM at Wildcliff Manor in New Rochelle. The Walk-A-Thon costs $20 per person and includes an outdoor barbeque with food and refreshments from 1:00 – 5:00PM. Registration begins on April 25 at www.ubcr.org .

The money will benefit the rebuilding effort and the church’s Manna Ministry food-distribution program, which has supported over 2,500 families, handed out more than 6,000 bags of food and served 3,000 hot meals every Friday in 2010. ShopRite Supermarkets has donated $3,000 to help keep Union Baptist Church’s Manna Ministry food pantry operating since the fire. There are also food and checkout donation drives taking place at the White Plains, Bedford Hills and New Rochelle at Joyce Road ShopRite store locations as part of the fundraising efforts.