Saturday jamboree in Libby to raise money to assist wildfire victims Event is part of a Disaster Relief for Montana effort that's so far raised $20,000

A fundraiser for disaster victims — in particular, people affected by recent area wildfires — happening this weekend in Libby has a little bit for everybody.

The “Fire Relief Jamboree” opens 10 a.m. Saturday at the Libby Memorial Events Center and lasts “until they kick us out,” according to the promotional poster hanging on storefronts around town.

There is no admission to the event, which opens with a family-friendly vendor fair and culminates with a jam session of the three bands slated to first perform separately — Country Legends, Angel Heart and Back Adit.

The vendor fair lasts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features face painting, singing by 12-year-old Payton Rae of Idaho and a magic show performed by Dan Jimmerson. The concert begins at 6 p.m. with another performance by Rae before the other three acts take the stage.

The day-long event is the latest to be held by Disaster Relief for Montana, a Columbia Falls-based organization whose vice president is Kalispell disc jockey Leah Lindsay. So far, the organization has raised about $20,000 from concerts in Lakeside and Whitefish — more are planned in addition to the show in Libby — and through a day-long fundraising effort across five McDonald’s restaurants owned by a single franchisee.

Lindsay recruited Troy-based promoter and Libby native Machelle Brossman, who co-owns Rockin’ the Country Enterprises, to organize Saturday’s Jamboree.

“I was asked to join the group by Leah after being tagged (on Facebook) for their appeal to get musicians for the concerts,” Brossman said.

She explained that broadly speaking the wholly volunteer organization aims to help victims of all disasters. Its decision to focus right now on wildfire victims is due to the recent prevalence of those events, she said.

Though the Jamboree is free to attend, Brossman encourages people to donate either cash or items that can be raffled off. She noted that the musicians are donating their time.

Organizers haven’t wasted time converting the money they’ve raised into needed items. Brossman said they’ve already delivered at least 20 loads of goods throughout the Flathead Valley and Lincoln County, including 11 trips to the West Kootenai for victims of the Caribou fire.

Brossman said she hopes to make the Jamboree an annual event, and that it meshes with her broader goals of giving back to her community.

“My goal is not only to help the local economy thrive, but also to raise money for all these great causes close to my heart,” she said.

For more information or to sign up as a vendor, call Brossman at 406-291-1534.