Lakewood Baptist Church hosted its 18th Annual Rhode Island Community Food Bank Benefit Concert on Palm Sunday, April 2nd. 

This year's concert was dedicated to those around the world both young and old who lost their lives to COVID.  A single candle was lit in their memory followed by a moment of silence.

 Pastor Nancie Mooney and Lincoln Smith planned the first concert. Seven churches participated and 350 lbs, of food and $1,165 for the food bank was collected.

  After Pastor Mooney retired Smith continued to put the concerts together until 2019.  For the last three years he was unable to do it due to COVID.  The concerts have  raised $34,784.46 and collected 7,635 lbs. of food for the food bank and the  Wesbay Marketplace.

This year the free will offering collected $4,605  for the food bank.  That money was matched by a Board of Directors Challenge which made the grand total raised from the concert $9,210.  With this money they can purchase 13,815 lbs. of food.  Also,  850 pounds of donated food was  delivered to Westbay Marketplace. 

Those taking part in the concert were: Lakewood Baptist Church Choir, Pastor Ron Provencal from Lakewood Baptist, Randy Dittmar from Lakewood Baptist, Warwick Central Baptist Church Choir, Woodbury Union Presbyterian Church Choir, Spring Green Memorial Church Choir, Judy Houle from Second Baptist Church, South Hadley, MA, The Silver Tops, Acoaxet Chapel Praise Team, Westport, MA and Pastor George Barclay from Norwood Baptist Church.

Smith said Lakewood is a "mission-minded church".

“Through our "HELP END HUNGER' Food ministry our church collects food every week for Westbay Marketplace, has cereal challenges and held three drive through food collections during COVID.”

  He said he can't wait to plan the concert every year and everyone gets pretty excited.  Lincoln's mom and dad always had a passion "for helping those in need", a legacy that was passed down to him.  No one should be hungry.