A concert featuring popular local musicians will benefit five agencies working to increase housing security and fight homelessness in the Centre region. The second annual “Gimme Shelter: The Concert for Housing Security in the Centre Region” will be presented at the South Hills School of Business and Technology in State College on Thursday, February 6, 2025, starting at 6 p.m.

As in the original Gimme Shelter in 2024, the performers will include Biscuit Jam, Eric Ian Farmer, and Jason O, the frontman for My Hero Zero. The Nittany Knights Barbershop Chorus will open the show. Radio personality Jeff Brown will be the emcee. Pizza, ice cream and soft drinks will be available for a free-will donation.

The event aims to raise money and awareness of the scale of housing insecurity in the region.

“Not only are there many homeless people in our community, but there are also many more who are just one layoff, or one personal crisis, away from it,” said Selden Smith, an organizer of the event. “Luckily there are also a lot of dedicated people working for change.”

Proceeds from the concert will be divided equally among five organizations: Out of the Cold, a low-barrier emergency shelter; Centre Safe, which provides services for victims/survivors of interpersonal violence, including emergency shelter and housing; Housing Transitions, which has operated a family shelter for the last 40 years as well as programs to assist individuals and families to find and maintain stable housing; the State College Community Land Trust, which creates affordable homeownership opportunities; and the Centre County Youth Service Bureau, ensuring that local youth and families have every opportunity to reach their full potential.

Tickets are available at Ticketstripe. There is no set price for tickets; buyers will be asked to donate what they can.

South Hills School of Business & Technology, located at 480 Waupelani Drive in State College, is offering its venue free of charge. All musicians and technical support staff are donating their time and talents.

Corporate sponsors include: Kish Bank, Meyer Dairy Store, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, South Hills School of Business & Technology, The Family Clothesline, and the State College Borough.

Information about the beneficiary agencies can be found at:

• Centre Safe: www.centresafe.org
• Out of the Cold: www.outofthecoldcc.org
• Housing Transitions: https://housingtransitions.org
• State College Community Land Trust: https://www.scclandtrust.org
• Centre County Youth Service Bureau: https://ccysb.com