by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
A Have a Heart Concert and silent auction will take place to raise money for upgrading the residential quarters at Place of Hope in St. Cloud, which serves people from throughout the area.
The event will take place starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14 at Calvary Community Church at 1200 Roosevelt Road.
Last year, a similar event raised funds to make vital improvements to “Chad’s Wing” at Place of Hope, a long hallway containing 15 rooms. Those improvements and additions have been mostly completed, with some floor-finishing work yet to be done, said Pastor Carol Jean Smith, who operates and maintains Place of Hope along with her husband, Pastor Gerry Smith.
“This Have a Heart concert is all about giving people an opportunity to see God has a heart for people, and He wants us to have a heart, too,” said Pastor Carol.
Smith explained what will happen at the event. At 6 p.m., the doors will open and visitors will have plenty of time to peruse the many silent-auction items, which will include gift certificates from many area businesses, such as Red Lobster, Becker Furniture World, Scheel’s, Bonanza, Panera, Arby’s, Walmart, Domino’s and more. There will also be art works, gift baskets and other items up for auction.
At 7 p.m., the concert will begin, with Pastor Carol singing Christian songs from her CDs. She will accompany herself on both piano and guitar. Later, Dancing for Jesus, a youth group from Big Lake, will perform three kinds of dances, including a ballet number. At intermission, there will be more time for the silent auction, along with hors d’oeuvres and punch. More musical performers will then take the stage.
Admission to Have a Heart is $10 per person, with free-will offerings available.
A videotape of the improvements to Chad’s Wing will be shown during the concert.
Altogether, there are about 70 beds at Place of Hope, which provides 7,000 meals per month to people down on their luck or suffering because of life crises.
For more information, visit www.placeofhopeministries.org.