Your Guide: FreedomSong Festival This Weekend

Massachusetts’ Premier U2 Tribute band Joshua Tree headlines Veterans Inc.’s annual FreedomSong Festival at Independence Hall on Sunday, Sept. 8, from noon to 6 p.m.

The event raises much-needed funds for the Veterans Inc.'s food services program, which serves homeless veterans in Worcester and Shrewsbury and provides food boxes to veteran families throughout Central Massachusetts.

Veterans Inc. gives a variety of services to end homelessness among veterans. Of these, perhaps the most crucial service is feeding veterans and their families. In addition to providing three hot meals to homeless veterans each day, the organization opens its food pantry to their clients in the community twice a month.

During the summer, the need is greater as donations decrease while people are on vacation and away from home. Veterans Inc. anticipates a greater need for food this year.

Last year, Veterans Inc. served more than 132,000 hot meals. This year, it expects to serve more than 140,000. Last year, Veterans Inc. gave out more than 70,000 pounds of food through the Food Pantry. This year, it expects to provide more than 75,000 pounds. Veterans Inc. had more than 800 unduplicated families visit for Food Boxes this past fiscal year. This year it expects that number to be closer to 1,000.

As the event’s Presenting Sponsor, Dunkin Donuts generously donated $10,000 dollars to this extremely worthy cause. All donations are tax deductible.

FreedomSong Festival features bands from around Central MA playing songs from different eras. In addition to Joshua Tree, other bands include Hero on Hold, Nemes, Jukebox Junkies, Dale LePage with Joe D’Angelo and Dan Gable and the Abeltones.

The event boasts other entertainment as well as food from local restaurants.