If I Had a Hammer: The Nields Celebrate Pete Seeger’s 100th Birthday
a Benefit for Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity’s Interfaith Build

(Northampton, MA, March 2019) – The public is invited to join The Nields and special guests on Friday 3 May at 7 pm at First Churches in Northampton for a community sing-along to benefit an organization that relies on community volunteers to build affordable homes for families with low incomes. What better way to mark the 100th birthday of the man who was quoted as saying, “Participation… that’s what’s gonna save the human race!” Opening the show will be Northampton area youth groups Local Chorus and Focus Chorus.

“For quite awhile we’d been thinking we wanted to celebrate Pete’s 100th birthday with a community sing-along,” says Nerissa Nields, “and when Pioneer Valley Habitat approached us about doing a benefit concert, we realized the synergy was just about perfect! Habitat’s community build approach and Pete’s community activism are nicely aligned.”

Proceeds from If I Had a Hammer will go toward the local interfaith effort to help build a modular home for and with a mother and her two daughters. Over a dozen local faith congregations have contributed volunteer hours, materials and funds toward the building of the modular home on Glendale Rd., and the hope is that with the concert the group will reach its $30,000 fundraising goal.

“I can’t think of a better way of offering yourself as an instrument of love and justice,” says Michael McSherry, minister of Edwards Church, of Habitat’s community build model. A Habitat home is “a solution for families, a partnership,” adds Todd Weir, co-pastor of First Churches. Reverend McSherry and Pastor Weir have been key motivators behind The House That Faith Built, and are delighted that the culmination of the year-long effort will involve local favorites The Nields leading the community in songs of peace and justice by a man who shared those ideals through his music.