'Every bit helps' farmers who lost crops

Published Jan. 11, 2008
By Airman 1st Class Rebekah Phy
305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- Team McGuire members recently participated in a benefit concert here to assist farmers in Ghana, Africa, who have no income due to destroyed crops.

Staff Sgt. David Weaver, 305th Comptroller Squadron, helped coordinate the event, after his sister-in-law, Sharon, mentioned the idea.

"Sharon's children created the non-profit organization 'Environmental and Human Development Foundation' to help the farmers in their local village in Ghana," said Roberta Stephens Satori, Sergeant Weaver's wife. "It was a very difficult and lengthy process to even start the foundation because things don't happen very quickly in Ghana, so all the help they can get is important."

As a family of performers, they decided a benefit concert would be the best way to help raise money for the foundation.

"We mentioned the concert idea to Chaplain (Capt.) Rochelle Coles, 305 AMW, and she was very supportive of the idea," Ms. Stephens Satori said. "We located our performers, and she helped us set it up at the chapel."

The five performers entertained the crowd with music, ranging from classical to opera and jazz.

The hour-long concert featured Capt. Darwyn Klatt, 6th Airlift Squadron, who played piano and sang vocals, and Airman 1st Class Alice Lewis, 621st Contingency Response Wing, Sergeant Weaver, Ms. Stephens Satori and Sharon Stephens, who all sang vocals in the show.

Ms. Stephens Satori said despite limited time with putting the show together, she was very happy with the turn out.

"We had about 35 people come out to the concert," she said. "We collected about $257, which may not seem like much for us, but it will help the farmers in Ghana. The money will help with their crops, as well as education, to help prevent something like this from happening again. Every bit helps," she said.

According to Ms. Stephens Satori, plans are in the works for future events to benefit the Environmental and Human Development Foundation. For information on how to donate, call Chaplain Coles at (609) 754-5905.