The Vineyard Church’s Homeless Ministry serves over 12,000 meals a year through its justice and compassion ministries, many to the homeless and underfed. Since 2006, the church’s Friday Night Homeless Ministry has gone to Liberty Plaza Park in Ann Arbor and provided pizza to between 80-120 homeless individuals.
by Ryan Hunter
IT TOOK NOTHING less than an invitation to perform at the holy house of Vineyard Church on Sunday, March 22 to bring out George Bedard & The Kingpins. These local legends have been praised by many, but on this occasion Bedard was donating his talent for a bring-down-the house, rollicking, old-fashioned Rock & Roll concert for the good of others—the homeless of Ann Arbor.
The Vineyard Church’s Homeless Ministry serves over 12,000 meals a year through its justice and compassion ministries, many to the homeless and underfed. Since 2006, the church’s Friday Night Homeless Ministry has gone to Liberty Plaza Park in Ann Arbor and provided pizza to between 80-120 homeless individuals.
Ann Arbor’s former mayor John Hieftje was frank about his expectations that local non-profits fill the human services funding gaps left by local politicians more interested in capital projects and economic development. While local tax dollar funding for Ann Arbor SPARK has more than doubled to over $2 million per year, human services funding has stagnated and been repeatedly targeted for reductions.
A proposal by Council member Sumi Kailasapathy (D-Ward 1) and Jack Eaton (D-Ward 4) to reallocate to human services $75,000 paid from the city’s General Fund to Ann Arbor SPARK, brought SPARK CEO
to Council Chambers. Council members pointed out that the $75,000 could have gone to feeding and housing the homeless. Krutko’s Council allies killed the proposal; after a 6-5 vote, the $75,000 went to SPARK’s marketing budget.
According to the Vineyard Church’s website, “volunteers load up a van with food, beverages, grocery bags and clothing, and head to Liberty Plaza Park in downtown Ann Arbor for food and fellowship.”
Volunteer coordinator Mary Ann Trainor says that those weekly Friday meals are expensive.
“We spend about $200-$250 a week, buying pizza, canned goods, Boost (or Ensure), bottled water, and a snack. We serve coffee, tea, hot chocolate in winter, lemonade in summer,” wrote Trainor in an email. “Our volunteers frequently pay out of their own pockets but they do so much already that we try not to depend on that.”
Thus, the church organized a benefit concert.
For a $10.00 cover charge, the people of Ann Arbor were invited to come out to see George Bedard & The Kingpins perform and support a worthy cause. The Ann Arbor Independent and this writer were invited to the fundraiser.
While most rockers are touring, partying, or indulging in a bit of self-promotion on Friday nights, Bedard, along with other Vineyard Church volunteers, can routinely be found in downtown Ann Arbor serving hot food and warm drinks to the homeless. This pantry was designed by the church with a dual purpose in mind. First, Vineyard Church is helping those less fortunate gain access to hearty, hot, meals. In addition, volunteers want to provide the necessary support to indigent members of the community. This help can include getting those with substance abuse issues into treatment programs, and helping others find the path back to social and economic solvency.
Church volunteer, Mary Ann Trainor, spoke with The Ann Arbor Independent and said, “When we see these people, they tell us how they’ve gotten started in recovery programs. It reminds us that we’re doing the right work!” However, Trainor also admitted that the church itself could use a little help to continue its work. Trainor pointed to this winter, one of Ann Arbor’s coldest ever recorded, as having had a debilitating effect on their mission work.
Trainor said, “This harsh, and brutal winter wiped out most of our supply. We need to build up our supplies.”
So to the rescue came George Bedard, who has volunteered at the Vineyard Church for the past year.
With the smell of popcorn, and other old-fashioned concessions wafting through the performance hall, the band took to the stage at about 4:35 p.m. Bedard asked the enthusiastic crowd, “Are y’all ready to rock?”
The response, as one might imagine, was an enthusiastic cheer as Bedard began working his way through an extensive catalog of songs that covered his decades long career.
Backed by the Kingpins: Rich Dishman (Drums) and Pat Proutry (Bass), these musicians played and playfully bantered their way through a nearly two hour long set. Bedard would occasionally throw a curve ball to the band by switching out songs on the play, but the Kingpins never missed a beat. George Bedard & The Kingpins, despite having not played a show since the end of 2014, the three men appeared truly happy to be playing a crowd again. At one point, special guest Scott Morgan (of the Sonic’s Rendezvous Band) took to the stage and delivered his trademark blue-eyed soul vocals over the Kingpins’ back-up sound.
The Pompadour-coiffed Bedard, brought youthful energy to the concert as he shimmied, shook, and occasionally gyrated through the retro-tinged catalog of songs. Members of the audience danced, clapped and several members of the audience blew Bedard the occasional kiss. Bedard, reminded by Mary Ann Trainor that he was performing in a house of worship, coyly looked down at the stage and apologized for some of his more worldly on-stage antics.
The crowd didn’t seem to mind a little sinning. Fittingly, Bedard closed out the show with crowd pleasing “Roll Over Beethoven.” At the end of the concert, George Bedard and the Kingpins met and thanked the guests for attending and supporting the church’s Homeless Ministry. In the church’s lobby the band posed for pictures.
George Bedard said, “This isn’t that hard, and it’s always a lot of fun.”
When speaking about his work with the homeless, Bedard said he plans to continue doing his part: “I always treat these people with respect and the dignity they deserve!”
Church representatives, Chris and Brandie Ekpiken encouraged people in the audience to get involved with helping out the Homeless Ministry.
Chris Ekpiken said, “as a church, we want to be a part of our community, and it’s been a blessing that the community has wanted to be a part of us!” Ekpiken went on to say, “People of the community are always looking to get involved. They’ll bring food to help us serve the homeless, and that’s been a big blessing.”
Mary Ann Trainor encouraged people of Ann Arbor to be mindful of the homeless, and not be afraid to get involved.
“Saying hello or asking them (the homeless) how they are doing helps maintain a sense of self,” Trainor said.
Those looking to get involved with Vineyard Church’s Homeless Ministry are encouraged to visit www.Annarborvineyard.org/homeless or call Vineyard Church of Ann Arbor at 734-477-9135. For those looking for more information about George Bedard & the Kingpins, please visit www.georgebedard.com.