Peter and Mary headline fundraiser

When they perform, popular roving entertainers Peter and Mary appear not to have a care in the world.

However, underneath the big smiles, this committed St. Albert couple is deeply involved in fundraising projects for the impoverished in Africa.

Once again they strap on a guitar and mount their puppets for a special benefit concert to aid the Canadian Hunger Foundation on Sunday, Oct. 23 at St. Albert United Church.

For the past 25 years, the duo has thrown their support behind CHF, an organization that teaches irrigation and basic agriculture in Third World countries.

“We were impressed by how little of the money they collect goes into administration – about seven per cent. It’s very grassroots,” says Peter Jensen.

Two new projects that have piqued their interest are a maternal and child health program that affects 82,000 people in South Sudan, and a food improvement program in Ethiopia where 80 per cent of the population depends on subsistence farming.

“Many people need a foot up to get started and CHF helps them get started. Many are frozen, overwhelmed by the situation they are in,” says Mary Kingsley.

Both she and Jensen explain that sometimes just digging wells and irrigating land is enough to revitalize a community.

For these two projects the CHF is looking for $1.25 million. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is topping that up with $3 for every dollar raised.

To get the ball rolling, Peter and Mary’s 70-minute benefit concert will incorporate songs from their three CDs. But a Peter and Mary show wouldn’t be complete without ventriloquism.

“It’s more complex than stand-up and it’s harder to produce a different personality, different voice, different dynamics while talking back and forth,” Kingsley explains.

Slipping on stage is MeMe, Mary’s naughty alter ego.

“She’s the person I’d like to be if I allowed myself to go completely to pieces.”

And then there’s Martha McHaggis, a politically incorrect little old gray-haired Scottish lady.

“She’s married to Angus and she’s quite flirtatious.”

Although the stage props are fun, the couple would like everyone to consider the need in Africa.

Jensen adds, “We support the hunger foundation 100 per cent because they are self-help as opposed to a band-aid solution.”

A DVD presentation of CHF work in Southern Sudan will be shown. For more information visit www.chf-partners.ca.