PICKENS – A number of people and businesses in the Pickens and Easley communities want to reach out and help a family in grief.

And they are showing their support by holding a benefit singing for the late Leonard and John Gillespie, two Pickens High School students who recently died in a car accident on S.C. 8 in Easley.

The concert will be Saturday, Jan. 31 at Northside Baptist Church and will feature bluegrass, gospel and country bands.

Those performing include the Rowdy Mountain Boys, the Mountain Angels, Wooden Nickel, Highway 8, Royal Blue, the Willimon Family and many more.

Organizers will also sell hot dog plates at $5 for adults and $3 for children age 10 and under. Plates will include hot dogs, baked beans or cole slaw, chips and a drink.

“This is my ministry,” said Deborah Day, organizer of the event, who lived near the two teens.

“The Lord laid it upon my heart to do this,” she said. “The communities in Easley, Liberty and Pickens have poured their hearts out to help this family.”

Along with food and music, there will also be drawings for various prizes at the event, she said. Activities will last from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Among the businesses donating gift cards are Applebees, Los Amigos, Panchos, Silver Bay, Mr. Dipps, Paradise Tanning, Hot Diggity Dogs and Cornerstone. There will also be newspaper subscriptions up for grabs, including the Sentinel and other prizes.

The church is located at 421 Sangamo Road in Pickens.

All proceeds will go to the John and Leonard Gillespie fund.