By: Kalen Ponche

As Published In:

  O'Fallon Journal

  St. Charles Journal

  St. Peters Journal

  Wentzville Journal

August 6, 2008

 

It's not uncommon to find snow cones, live bands and face painting in Frontier Park in St. Charles during a summer weekend.

 

But on Saturday, the park on the Missouri riverfront was filled with volunteers who donated their time and talent to raise money for the American Red Cross during the Concert for Flood Relief.

 

Four bands performed during the concert, which lasted from 2 to 10 p.m., while members of the St. Charles and St. Peters Jaycees sold food and drinks.

 

All net proceeds from the event would be donated to the American Red Cross St. Charles County Service Center, said Scott Tate, president of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce. Volunteers Monday were still tabulating the amount of money they collected, although Tate said it could be close to $5,000.

 

"Every time you do something like this you hope you have an impact," Tate said. "The American Red Cross is walking away with more than they had when they started."

 

Brad Farber, director of the American Red Cross St. Charles County Service Center, said the money will go toward relief and recovery efforts in St. Charles and Lincoln counties. To date, the American Red Cross has helped more than 160 families affected by flooding in the two counties. The Red Cross has given families money to buy clothing, food and medications and has provided them with cleanup kits, as well.

 

Farber said most people think of disaster response as just lasting until the disaster is completed, but he said now relief workers are moving on to long-term recovery efforts.

 

Farber said it was inspiring to see so many volunteers show up to the concert after spending the past 40 days assisting with flood response.

 

"I thanked everybody there a couple of times," he said. "Of course, the people in our community are the real heroes."

 

Jeff Dunlap, a St. Louis County resident who frequently boats on the river in St. Charles County, initially contacted the St. Charles Chamber of COmmerce about hosting a concert.

 

"My heart went out to many of the business owners and others who were displaced and whose businesses were shut down by the flood," he said.

 

Dunlap said the whole project came together in three weeks. The bands, including Dunlap's band, Jasha & The Sixty Minute Men, agreed to perform for free. Other groups, such as the Association of Realtors, donated soda that was sold at the event.

 

The American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency set up information booths at the event, but aside from that, the chamber kept it simple.

 

The 400 or so attendees didn't seem to mind the heat and the crowds swelled later in the day.

 

"I think everybody in the crowd seemed to have a great time," Dunlap said.