Owen Sound – More than a dozen musicians gave their talent and time, a public facility loaned their space, a handful of volunteers kept a spontaneous initiative on track, and more than 150 people turned up to be part of the Stone Soup Concert for West Africa on Friday evening.
The event – held in the atrium of the Public Health Building near the Owen Sound harbour – smashed expectations and raised more than $7,000 for Medecins Sans Frontieres/ Doctors Without Borders: the organization on the forefront of the Ebola crisis in West Africa.
It was a bold concept: a grassroots fundraiser with no formal ownership, no budget, and no organizational structure, but a clear sense of mission: to help mitigate the human tragedy unfolding in West Africa with some much-needed funds and greater awareness of the work of the heroic doctors in the highly-regarded Medecins Sans Frontieres.
Dr. Hazel Lynn – who spent time working as a physician in Africa not far from "ground zero" of the Ebola outbreak – spoke early in the evening about the kinds of conditions the doctors would have faced when they arrived. Lynn praised the work and international reputation of Medecins Sans Frontieres, who treat those in need regardless of political affiliation, nationality or ideology.
Legendary local performer Larry Jensen was one of the first musicians to step forward to support the Stone Soup Concert, but more than a dozen other local musicians, performers and spoken-word artists contributed their talents and thoughts to the event. Performers included Kelly Babcock, Dave Hawkins and his wife Trish, Lauren Jewell, Leila Core, Deanne Hallman, Midnight Special, Bob and Caroline Menzies, Zoltan Stewart, and The Boris Hoffmans.
Admission to the concert was free, but donations were accepted at the door. Donations over $50 were recognized with a special memento of the evening: a local river rock emblazoned with the Medecins Sans Frontieres logo and the words Stone Soup. The river rock initiative, and insurance for the event were sponsored, and local businesses Grandma Lambe's and Metro grocery also supported the event with donations.
All proceeds for the event go directly to Medecins Sans Frontieres next week. Donors may still contribute online at www.stonesoupconcert.ca.

Source - Stone Soup Concert organizers