SARANAC LAKE – Bagpipes. Bluegrass. Blues. Baroque. Rock. Rockabilly. Folk. Country. Gospel. Americana. If you’re a fan of any or all of the above genres of music, the sixth annual North Country Musicians Unite for Local Food Pantries benefit at the Adirondack Carousel will give you a chance to hear some great music and donate to a great cause.

“I’m a firm believer that many people are very generous,” organizer Keith Gorgas said. “Finding the opportunities and making the ways to contribute, a lot of people really enjoy being a part of that and are very willing to share what they have with others who might not have as much.”

Gorgas and his team of fellow organizers have been working on putting the event together since November. The proceeds will benefit the Saranac Lake Interfaith Food Pantry and the St. Paul’s-Assumption Vermontville Food Pantry.

“There are five of us that work on planning it,” he said. “My wife (Doreen) and myself, Daun Reuter, Ben Hameline and Cameron Anderson, we’re kind of the reach-out, and then we have lots of other people that are helping.”

Gorgas said the event will accept cash or non-perishable food donations but stressed that cash donations will help more people thanks to matching grants and bulk purchasing.

“Every dollar donated can buy up to $10 worth of food from the Regional Food Bank in Albany,” he said. “In other words, you can buy a box of crackers and donate it, but if you take that money and you kick it in as cash, it can buy up to 10 boxes of crackers.”

In addition to its live music lineup, the event will feature hot dogs, hamburgers, and baked goods for sale. Attendees will have the chance to buy raffle tickets for gift certificates and other prizes donated by local merchants, and Gorgas and co. will auction off a guitar signed by all the performers as well.

In addition to donating to the event, Gorgas said interested parties can help in other ways.

“Any members of the community that would like to help with the set up or break down are very welcome,” he said. “We’re going to start getting busy at 10 o’clock in the morning, and after the show, if people can spend a few minutes getting the chairs picked up and rearranged, we really will appreciate that.”