LUNCH Ensemble to perform benefit

MIDDLETOWN — Grammy-winner Bill Pere and The Lunch Ensemble will perform a concert to benefit Middletown’s social service agencies and the Buttonwood Tree on Sunday, March 4 at 4 p.m. The concert will be held at the First Church of Christ at 190 Court St., Middletown.

The event is a family-friendly concert to benefit the community outreach programs of The Buttonwood Tree and local social service programs, providing food and shelter to those in need, through Local United Network to Combat Hunger (L.U.N.C.H.) A silent auction with art and music and other items and a bake aale will also be held.

Pere, one of Connecticut’s State Troubadours, was recently named one of the “Top 50 Guiding Lights of the Music Industry” by Music Connection Magazine. Other professional artists in the ensemble include Nashville recording artist Kay Pere and award winning performer Larry Batter. Along with a local youth choir, the concert features uplifting, familyfriendly, spiritually-oriented music of Harry Chapin, and other selections from their catalog

Admission is $10 at the door (adults) or $8 (under 12). Those unable to attend may sponsor $10 seats for others. Learn more at www.lunchensemble.com

There are nearly 300,000 people in Connecticut who do not know where their next meal will come from. More than 100,000 children under the age of 12 in Connecticut do not have enough food. LUNCH was founded in 1989 by Bill Pere, carrying on the legacy of songwriter-activist Harry Chapin. To date, the organization has raised more than $1,000,000 to support community outreach agencies and programs in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and beyond. The LUNCH Ensemble includes a group of young people from throughout the region. More than 3000 youths have participated over the years and they see first hand that they can make a difference in other people’s lives.

“Kids who participated the first year are still involved 20 years later as adults,” said Pere. “It’s great to see how young people grow, not only in their level of talent and maturity, but in their understanding of the role that the arts can play in reaching out to meet social needs in the community. That is something they can bring to bear as they become adult leaders of their communities.”

For information, go to www.lunchensemble.com, call 860572-9285, or email info@lunchensemble.com