On July 20, 2008 the Strand hosted a concert to benefit flood victims of Shelby County.    United We Sing! was produced by Cindy Houpt, who at age 12 lost her childhood home to a tornado.   Cindy, remembering the generosity of others in her Ohio hometown, produced this concert to give back what she had received. 

The Concert was a Gospel Sing that included the following performers:

• Kathleen Miller
• New Life United Methodist Church Choir
• The Harker Family
• Liberty United Methodist Church Choir
• Harvest Bible Chapel Choir
• Chloe Sandman
• Arthur Spriggs
• Mt. Pisgah’ Saggy Bottom Boys
• Kim Wallace
• St. Joseph Catholic Church Choir
• Hope’s Point Baptist Church Choir
• Willandra Macklin, Susan Probst, Mike Woods
• Blue River Community Choir

An audience of 265 enjoyed an afternoon filled with music.   The concert was able to raise over $2700 for the Flood Victims in Shelby County.    Susan Furgeson of the Blue River Foundation was on hand to talk about the relief efforts and accept the donations.    The Strand appreciates the efforts of Cindy and Angie Davies for all their effort in making this concert a success.   The Strand is once again pleased to be able to help "give back" to our community.

Below is a picture of the closing song lead by Strand Volunteer and Blue River Choir director Cindy Leahy conducting the combined performers and audience in "Let There be Peace on Earth".   It sounded magnificent.

Below is the audience at intermission: