Wells Area Food Shelf volunteers are busy planning for their annual spring concert which takes place every year in conjunction with the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign.

This year’s event has been made even better after the food shelf and USC/St. Casimir’s School Backpack Program formed a partnership to help the area’s hungry. Backpack program volunteers are also hard at work planning a silent auction, which will take place conjunction with concert.

The concert and silent auction will be on Sunday in the United South Central High School auditorium in Wells. Doors open at 1 p.m. for the silent auction. The concert is slated for 2 p.m. Bidding will come to a close during the concert’s intermission.

“Both the food shelf organization and the backpack group are passionate about the same goal — feeding this area’s hungry people no matter what their age,” said Jean Steinhauer, Wells Area Food Shelf board president. “Combining the skills and enthusiasm of both groups for one fun afternoon guarantees a great gathering.”

The backpack group has taken up the silent auction. A number of area businesses and organizations are putting together items for the silent auction, many of them baskets featuring retail products from local stores. Other items up for grabs that afternoon include individual items donated to the auction. All offerings are sure to please, according to backpack volunteers now working on the project.

Gary Hagen, a longtime volunteer at both the food shelf and backpack programs, will be the master of ceremonies for the concert. Those who attend will enjoy a number of musical numbers in addition to some magic tricks and other surprises, according to event organizers. Information on the food shelf, the backpack program and a new summer lunch program for kids will also be shared with audience members that afternoon.

There is no charge to attend the event. An offering wil be taken.

People who wish to lend a hand to the mission, but who are unable to attend the concert, may mail their donations to the Wells Area Food Shelf, c/o Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 291 First Street SW, Wells, MN 56097 or drop them off at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church during regular hours.

The concert has taken place in March every year since that month has been designated Minnesota FoodShare Month. Every dollar donated goes directly to food shelves to purchase food for the hungry.

All donations made to the Wells Area Food Shelf, both financial and in products in March, will be tallied and results forwarded to MN Food Share. Those numbers will be used to determine what funding the Wells Area Food Shelf will receive from this year’s statewide fund drive.

“We’ve always appreciated such generous support from area people when our fundraiser is held each March,” Steinhauer said. “There are many hungry people among us and each and every dollar earned that day is used to purchase food and supplies to feed them. Our contributors are much appreciated by so many people, young and old. And we thank them in advance for continuing to join us in our mission.”