An arts benefit show that aimed to raise funds for flood relief took place yesterday evening in the Old Union Hall. All proceeds for the event went to the United Way of Broome County Flood Relief Fund.

The concert, titled “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” took place from 7 to 10 p.m. The event featured a variety of performances, including poetry readings and musical performances by Binghamton University students and members of the Binghamton community.

The concert was free for attendees, but organizers provided an outlet for optional donations at the door. Around 50 people attended the concert.

The event was organized by Elizabeth Reyn, a senior majoring in creative writing, and Kimberly Hom, a senior double-majoring in psychology and sociology.

The pair volunteered at the Events Center after the campus arena became a temporary shelter for displaced local residents from Sept. 7 to Sept. 21.

“It was a devastating situation over [at the Event Center],” Reyn said. “There was no room and no privacy over there.”

In the days following the flood, Hom presented Reyn with the idea of an arts benefit show to raise money for flood relief.

“What better way to bring people together than through art,” Reyn asked.

Hom and Reyn sought help in organizing the event from Binghamton University’s Student Volunteer Center and the Center for Civic Engagement, who advised them to contact the Student Association and SA-chartered groups to sponsor the event.

Reyn contacted BU Piano Society and Ellipsis, an undergraduate literary journal, and both groups agreed to be co-sponsors of the show.

Hom and Reyn both stressed how proud they were with the performers at the concert.

“There was an overflow of performers who showed up at the GIM,” Reyn said. “We actually had to turn some down.”

Evan Greenberg, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, performed both solo and with his band, Phoenix and Ravens. He said he heard about “Bridge Over Troubled Water” through others involved.

Evan cited community service at the Events Center as the reason why the band was part of the show.

“Some of the [other band members] are big in community service and volunteered at the Events Center,” Greenberg said.

The event also included an art gallery, a silent auction and a T-shirt booth. The art gallery featured artwork by BU students who donated their works to the show.

The silent auction featured art pieces by Steven Palmer, lead program analyst at Information Technology Services, and Sara Doty, Hom’s friend, whose apartment was affected by the flood.

“[Sara] was happy to offer her painting for auction,” Hom said.

The pieces ranged from $2 to $30 starting bids, and bids were placed by signing a paper next to the piece with your name and bid amount. The T-shirts on sale were also designed by Steven Palmer.

Reyn encouraged others to pursue their own ideas for BU events to help with flood relief.

“I don’t want to sound cliché, but [students] can make a difference,” Reyn said.