Those slated to appear are acoustic guitar players Dean Magraw, Dan Schwartz and Ben Woolman. Magraw has accompanied Garrison Keillor. Church member and guitarist Elgin Foster started the tradition and also will play.
More than 300 people attended last year’s concert. The three guitarists all have performed at previous benefit concerts for the program. This will be Magraw’s third appearance, Schwartz’s fourth, and Woolman’s second.
The concert will raise money for the MOMS (Making Our Moms Successful) program, which pairs single mothers with mentors for up to five years. Congregation members began the program in 1988 as a sliding-fee child-care center in space the church donated.
MOMS now operates with a $100,000 annual budget. Faith Covenant still largely runs the program, and its members make up most of the mentors.
Donations make up most of the financial support, although MOMS has attracted some grant funding. At any time, the program helps 10 to 12 women, most of who are referred by social workers, women’s shelters, and nurses.
The mothers involved in the program struggle financially and many lack education. As part of the program, they must attend monthly group meetings that cover topics such as budgeting, parenting and keeping a job.
Concert tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. For more information or to purchase tickets, call MOMS at 952-890-5072.