ALBANY — Mid-valley rock band Edict and rapper Fresh will donate their musical talents to help raise funds for Albany Helping Hands Homeless Shelter.

The concert will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 16, at the Venetian Theater.

The new shelter on Ninth Street opened June 28 with an operating cost that exceeds $13,000 per month. The non-profit shelter is funded soley by community support, by local churchs and by fund-raising events.

This is the first concert fund-rasier the shelter has done to raise awarenes, and the choice of musical genres was selected by the the shelter's Guest Coordinator Barbara Thayer, who wanted to hold an event that would appeal to people under 30.

"People in their 20s and younger aren't taught about homelessness; it isn't something that's talked about," Thayer said. "I really wanted to raise awareness. People view homelessness as a permanent condition. It's not something that a lot of people understand."

Both Edict and Fresh have waived their usual fees for the event.

"We decided it would be best to have all the money go to the homeless shelter," said Phil Reihl, lead vocalist for Edict.

Sean "Fresh" Feltmann echoed Reihl's sentiments. "People ask, where is it going?" he said. "And that is the point of a benefit."

Both Edict and Fresh have participated in fund-raisers in the past. Edict has performed to help raise funds for victims of Sept. 11 and other similar events. Fresh performed at an event for Doernbecher Hospital in Portland, helping earn $2,000 for the children's hospital.

If you go

WHAT: A benefit concert to raise money for Albany Helping Hands homeless shelter

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, July 16.

WHERE: Venetian Theater, 241 S.W. First Ave., Albany

COST: Tickets are $10 and are available at Ticketswest, Rainbow West Bookstore, by calling Barbara Thayer at 926-4036 or at the door.