Homeless Assistance Group Holding Charity Music Fest In E. Providence

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — A local nonprofit is holding a music festival Sunday in East Providence to raise money for its programs that help homeless people get back on their feet.

The music festival organized by the Mae Organization for the Homeless is scheduled for 12:30 p.m., Sunday at Pierce Memorial Stadium.

"We were looking for new fun ways to bring people together after COVID," Founder Martinha Isabel said. "All of our events have been indoors, so it will be fun to have an outdoor festival that includes music because we involve a lot of music therapy as one of our holistic practices."

For a donation to the Mae, the community can enjoy live music, magic, dance, raffles and plenty of food and drinks. Vendors sponsoring the event include Whalers Brewing Company, High Noon, Mike's City Dogs, Matos Bakery and more.

The Mae Organization is a Cranston-based nonprofit that helps people experiencing homelessness with talk therapy, music therapy, food and housing programs and more. So far in 2022, the organization has served 10,000 meals to people in need, Isabel said.

Isabel said two of the biggest causes of homelessness are mental health issues and opioid addiction, so she tries to tailor the program around addressing these problems.

"We wanted to bring the whole community together here," Isabel said. "We work with at risk and homeless individuals and help them become thriving and self sufficient citizens. Our mission is to promote healing and mental wellness."

More information about the festival can be found on the Mae Organization's website.