Concert to benefit group's work

When Help Can't Wait, a nonprofit organization, will hold its first fundraiser, Gospel for the Soul benefit concert and silent auction Tuesday.

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"We exist primarily on in-kind donations. The people and businesses of Augusta have been generous with the items and the time they donate," said Helen McVicker, the founder and executive director. "However, we also need cash in order to keep our programs going. I hope that this will furnish us with the much-needed cash to help fill that void."

When Help Can't Wait, founded last year, provides residents of 23 nursing homes in area counties with items and activities to make their stays more comfortable.

Items provided in the past have included lap quilts, pocket tissues, puzzle books and tropical fish screens. Activities have included foot and hand spas and performances by the gospel group Wisdom.

Wisdom will also be the feature group for the benefit concert, McVicker said.

"Wisdom donates their time and performs for free at the nursing homes," she said. "Having heard them in the nursing homes, they were just so good that one of my board members came up with the idea of featuring them for our fundraiser."

Items that will be up for bid include an airplane ride over Augusta and Thurmond Lake, two tickets to the Augusta Opera, a souvenir baseball signed by Cal Ripken, several oil paintings, and gift certificates to restaurants.

McVicker said she hopes the event will become an annual fundraiser.

"We want to continue what we have already begun in the nursing homes and there are new opportunities every day for us to contribute to them," she said.