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Shown above, from left, Corrine Wolff, Chrissy and Margaret Conaboy.
Abington Journal/ Don McGlynn
CLARKS SUMMIT – Some of the areas talented musicians will be taking the stage for a cause this Saturday, Jan. 30, when the Music Studio in Clarks Summit hosts “Music for Haiti.”
The concert will see a variety of some of the area’s best high school and college-aged musicians perform an acoustic set to raise money and awareness of the recent earthquake in Haiti.
“It’s to show the community what is really happening in Haiti, and how it connects to us in Clarks Summit,” said “Music for Haiti” coordinator, Corrine Wolff, 17, of Clarks Summit.
Admission to the concert is free, but donations for Compassion Weavers, a Passionist Missionaries group run by Rev. Rick Frechette, will be collected at the door.
The concert is one of several fundraisers for Compassion Weavers that Wolff is currently involved in, along with Clarks Summit residents Margaret, 21 and Chrissy Conaboy, 23.
Most recently, the girls took part in a candlelight vigil at The University of Scranton, held on Monday, Jan. 19, which raised over $3,000. In addition, Chrissy has set up a change drive at Pocono Mountain Charter School where she teaches, and the three have several other events in the works.
Wolff and the Conaboys said that so far fundraising has been going very well, and they’ve noticed that in light of the recent tragedy many people have been very eager to give to a cause that’s been close the girls’ hearts for a long time.
“Our family has been involved with Haiti for over ten years, now. My dad actually worked down there for year. I’ve been back and forth a couple times… and even before the earthquake, it was a country in dire need of help,” said Chrissy.
“Sometimes you have to wonder if the earthquake was a blessing in disguise, because now people realize what Haiti is like,” said Wolff.
“It’s sad but true,” added Margaret.
While they are happy to see the current flood of donations, they are hoping people keep Haiti in their minds long after the news stations and papers have stopped reporting, which is why the girls are still discussing projects they can put together later in the year.
“We want the fundraising to be ongoing. Someone made a comment to me, asking why I wasn’t doing my change drive until June, this is going to be old news by then, and I just kind of said, well that’s why,” said Chrissy.
In addition to fundraising, Wolff and the Conaboys are scheduled to travel to Haiti in July.
The next two events the three have scheduled are “A Night at JJ Bridges for Haiti,” on Sunday, Jan. 31, from 7 to 11 p.m. featuring Tony Vergnetti and the Harrison Wolff Band, and the “Oxfam Hunger Banquet” at the Clarks Summit Fire Hall on Friday, March 19, at 5 p.m.
For information on future events, or on how to volunteer, visit Scranton Aid for Haiti on www.facebook.com or email [email protected].
“Concert for Haiti” will run from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Music Studio, 106 Colburn Ave., Clarks Summit.