SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Prodisee Pantry’s Helping Ordinary People Everyday, or HOPE, praise concert attracted more than 350 people Sunday to the Daphne Civic Center and raised more than $2,000 to help offset a spike in assistance requests as the national recession impacts the Eastern Shore.

“It was a great night of praising the Lord’s name and asking him to continue blessing us, so that we can continue to bless others in need of our help,” said Deann Servos, executive director of the community emergency food and disaster relief organization based in Spanish Fort.

Servos said the concert, headlined by Dove-award winning singer/songwriter Mark Harris, lifted spirits and heightened awareness about the growing need for the pantry’s services, but the work to be done increases every day.

With 140 families served on Tuesday, alone, Servos said May is already on pace to meet or exceed the 600 families served in each of the past two months.

See the rest of this story in the May 7 Spanish Fort Sun.