Tri-Cities rally for Haiti

Haitian relief efforts in the Tri-Cities area will have star power on its side this week in the form of Grammy-winner Dionne Warwick.

A portion of the proceeds from Warwick's Saturday concert at St. Charles' Arcada Theater will go to the UNICEF Haitian Relief Fund, theater owner Ron Onesti said. It's one of several disaster-relief efforts taking shape in the area.

"I was watching all this stuff on TV and was like, man oh man, I really want to do something," Onesti said. "I was thinking about it later in the car and 'That's What Friends are For' came on the radio. I was like, geez, it's right there."

Warwick, best known for hits "Walk On By," "I Say A Little Prayer For You," and "That's What Friends Are For," plays the 900-seat theater at 8 p.m. Onesti said an undetermined portion of proceeds will go to UNICEF. Seats are $55 to $79 and available at oshows.com or by calling (847) 795-1800.

Other local efforts to help earthquake-ravaged Haiti include a bowling fundraiser Thursday sponsored by Mill Creek Elementary School in Geneva and numerous church drives.

Starting Wednesday, Lord of Life Church in Elburn is collecting items such as bottled water, food, and bedding to send to Haiti. Donations will be accepted daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the church, 40W605 Route 38, until noon Jan. 31.

For a list of suggested donations, go to lolchurch.net or call (630) 513-5325.

"As a people, as a community of believers, we don't want to turn our back and look away," Lord of Life volunteer coordinator Curt Berg said. "We just want to do this because we love Jesus."

In St. Charles, Baker Memorial United Methodist Church is collecting monetary donations through the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Senior Pastor Ronnie Verboom said the committee is unique in that the United Methodist Church pays all administrative costs, so 100 percent of donations will go to Haiti without delay.

To donate, visit the church, 307 Cedar Ave., or log onto umcor.org.

"What's really remarkable is, with the Internet now, you can immediately get your money where it needs to be," Verboom said. Thursday's bowling fundraiser is planned for 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Funway, 1335 S. River St., Batavia. Students can bowl two games for $5 and also are asked to collect pledges from family and friends. To make a pledge, call Mill Creek Elementary School at (630) 463-3400.

Helping Haiti?: Send news releases on organized Hatian relief efforts in the Tri-Cities area to tricity@dailyherald.com.