The bare necessities – a few dollars, some cans of food, the desire to groove and a compassionate spirit – are all that are needed for a great Saturday night.
The “Bare Necessities” Benefit Concert for Homelessness, sponsored by the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group, will take place Saturday at 8 p.m. in Agate Hall.
OSPIRG plans to donate all proceeds from the concert to ShelterCare, a nonprofit human services agency that supports homeless families, families at risk of becoming homeless and adults with mental illnesses or disabilities.
According to a 2008 official Lane County homeless count, there are approximately 2,111 homeless individuals in the county. Homelessness can stem from problems such as trouble keeping a job in a declining employment market, or physical or mental illnesses that prevent individuals from working. According to ShelterCare, 2,000 out of 6,500 adults in Lane County who suffer from severe psychiatric disability lack supported housing services.
Projected to raise between $250 and $350, the concert will provide ShelterCare with funding to aid in maintaining its services and to accommodate an increasing number of homeless families in Eugene.
Tessa Barker, leader of OSPIRG’s Hunger and Homelessness Campaign, believes homelessness is “a problem that is often overlooked, or seen as an inevitable consequence of modern societies.” Through “Bare Necessities,” OSPIRG wants “to change that perception and show people that there are ways we can make a positive impact in the homeless community,” Barker said.
OSPIRG’s Hunger and Homelessness Campaign provides volunteer services and money to organizations in need. Students involved in the campaign are assigned to different community-wide organizations where they do nonprofit work. The campaign conducts events such as the Hunger Cleanup, a program where sponsored individuals earn funding to fight hunger for each hour they volunteer on a Saturday in April.
Eager to contribute to the campaign, Portland and Eugene-based bands including Adam Disconnected, Gods and Kings, Ineffectuals and The Tunnel Kings will provide audiences with music ranging from indie to rock to acoustic.
Wesley Curtis, singer and guitarist for Ineffectuals, said the band members are excited to play in support of the cause.
“We love doing this kind of stuff and it’s amazing to think that you can, in your small way, do something good by rocking out and playing music,” he said. The Eugene band has previously performed in benefit concerts for the Children’s Miracle Network and Planned Parenthood.
While “Bare Necessities” may not end homelessness, the intent to bring awareness about homelessness remains a tangible goal.
“What we must hope for is that people are inspired by attending an event like this,” Curtis said. “That it allows them to dig up a bit more compassion for their fellow humans and do whatever they can, whenever they can.”
OSPIRG has organized popular events in the past such as similar benefit concerts to fight hunger and homelessness, and thus expects a good turnout for “Bare Necessities.” The benefit’s co-sponsors include the Survival Center, The Veterans and Family Student Association, and Students for Global Health.
Concert doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets can be purchased for $4 to $6 at Agate Hall on Saturday night. In addition, guests who bring non-perishable food items will earn tickets for a raffle.
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