Forty-eight people gathered Thursday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Tamaqua for the opening concert of the 15th annual Tamaqua Area Hunger Campaign.

The evening featured acoustic performances by Jay Smar, Waiting For Eyes with Ryan and Kyle Dunkleberger, and Jason DeMarco and guests.

Concertgoers also brought canned and other nonperishable foods to help stock local hunger-relief programs, with monetary donations also accepted.

The concert marked the beginning of a month of activities organized by the Tamaqua Area Faith Fellowship Network and Tamaqua Area Community Partnership to collect food and funds for local hunger-relief efforts.

This year’s campaign has a goal of raising $25,000 and 175 boxes of nonperishable food for area food pantries.

For more information about the soup sale and other ways to participate, visit the website at tamaquahunger.tacp.info.