OWEN SOUND, ON – A conversation about the heroism of doctors on the forefront of the Ebola crisis in West Africa has turned into a grassroots fundraiser this weekend in Owen Sound. The Stone Soup Concert for West Africa will take place on Friday evening, November 7 in the atrium of the Public Health Building on 17th Street East in Owen Sound. All proceeds go to Médecins Sans Frontières/ Doctors Without Borders.
The Stone Soup Concert has three goals: to create a fun community event; to support MSF, the organization thrust onto the front line of the battle with Ebola; and to initiate a broader conversation around the role Canada should play in fighting this epidemic in West Africa.
The concert name recalls the old folk tale of "stone soup", in which a traveller begins a pot of soup with only a stone and encourages others to add some small, seemingly insignificant ingredients. Eventually a large pot of nourishing soup feeds the whole village. The fable is a reflection on the power of imagination, and cooperation.
Shortly after announcing the initiative, the organizers secured a venue, authorization from Médecins Sans Frontières for the fundraiser, and commitments from prominent musical acts, including local musical legend Larry Jensen. Jensen explains his early leadership in jumping on-board with the project:
"As a member of the musical community we are often asked to lend our support with our gift of music because music gathers, music informs and music heals... for Doctors without Borders and the Ebola crisis, I am there in a heartbeat."
The Stone Soup Concert will have a variety-show format, with a playbill that features Jensen along with other local performers including Tara McKenzie, Deanne Hallman, Kelly Babcock,
The Midnight Special Band and more. A list of confirmed performers is available at www.stonesoupconcert.ca.
Admission is free – and donations will be collected at the event. Tax receipts will be issued by Médecins Sans Frontières for donations over $20.
People who wish to volunteer can get in touch through the website contact form, or through thefacebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/872243759455301/
Individuals and businesses who cannot attend in person, but wish to support the fundraising goal of the local event, can do so via the donate button on the www.stonesoupconcert.ca web site, or pledge a donation requesting a cheque pick-up through the contact form on the same site, or with a phone call to Anne Finlay-Stewart at 519-371-3933.

Source - Stone Soup Concert organizers