March 29, 2024

Concert set to raise funds for food pantry

Diva and the Deacons headlining the event

Diva and the Deacons are set to headline the Jasper County Food Pantries Concert fundraiser.

Taking the stage the dynamic group will rock the Maytag Bowl starting at 2 p.m. July 24 while helping raise money for local food pantries.

The concert is sponsored by the South Skunk Blues Society and the City of Newton in partnership with the Jasper County Iowa Chapter of Thrivent Financial.

“Blues, rock and soul meets jazz, jam and gospel, with theater, jingles, ragtime and whatever the heck we feel like throwing in,” lead singer Tina Hasse Findlay said about what to expect from the group.

Diva and the Deacons is made up of Findlay along with her husband Brandon and other local and regional musicians who have joined them during the years.

As a duo, trio, quintet or sextet, they say the band is built from a loving devotion to the “kaleidoscope of sounds and styles” that have raise from the places they call home.

The concert serves as a platform to raise money for several local food pantries including the Newton Salvation Army Food Pantry, the PCM Food Pantry, the Colfax-Mingo Food Pantry, the Baxter Food Pantry, and the East Jasper Christian Food Pantry.

Tax-deductible freewill donations will be accepted at the event with $1,294 of the money raised during the campaign matched by Thrivent.

This concert is the latest in a series of concert sponsored by Thrivent in their ongoing efforts to help feed those in need. To date, Thrivent has raised more than $26,000 for area food pantries from the annual concerts.

“This year we decided to see if we might be successful at fundraising with a potentially larger audience,” Chapter President Craig Peterson said. “When the Thrivent leadership began to plan for the years fundraiser, it made some sense to see if we could partner with SSBS and raise money at the concert they had arranged to co-sponsor at Maytag Park with the city of Newton.”

Peterson said that he received unanimous support at his monthly SSBS meeting and also received support from the Newton Park Department to allow the food panty fundraiser to take place.

“We are honored and so pleased to be able to fundraise for the food pantries at this show performed by the soul powerhouse and in readied entertainer Tina Haase Findlay and her band, Diva and the Deacons,” Peterson said.

For those unable to attend, but would like to contribute, send checks payable to Jasper Co. Iowa Chapter of Thrivent and mail care of Duane Quanbeck, 2420 N. 6th Ave E., Newton, Iowa 50208.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at
641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or
jpierson@newtondailynews.com