LEND A HAND FOR THOSE IN NEED; ATTEND BENEFIT CONCERT

By Christina R. Garza

From The Brownsville Herald

Fiesta Gigante, a concert to raise money for the Brownsville non-profit organizations the Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center and the Good Neighbor Settlement House, is slated for 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, at the Jacob Brown Auditorium.

Raul Barragan, executive event promoter for Provision productions, said this is the first year the concert will be held. Tickets for the concert may be purchased at the Ozanam Center for a monetary donation of $20 or $20 worth of hygienic products.

Victor Maldonado, executive director for the Ozanam homeless shelter, said the organization needs basic products like shampoo, razors and deodorant.

He said the center serves an average of 100 to 120 people a month with showers, meals, clothing and a food pantry.

Maldonado said he was excited about the fundraiser because both Good Neighbor Settlement House and Ozanam serve those in need.

“The people that receive help are a forgotten population and we need to help them out because many of the families in Brownsville are just a paycheck away from being homeless, and if that does happen we are here,“ Maldonado said.

Barragan said the event is made possible by support from La Nueva 99.5 radio station, Univision 48 and TexasSouthmost College.

Univision reporter Enrique Lerma said the company wanted to support the concert to give back to the community.

Lerma said the concert will feature regional music from the border including bands such as Costa Azul, Grupo Control, Los Viejones De Linares, Banda Sinaloense and Banda Los Ebanitos.
For more information call (361) 944-5517. To make a donation call the Ozanam Center at (956) 831-6331 or the Good Neighbor Settlement House at (956) 542-2368.