ROCHESTER, Pa. — It’s been two and half years since the Norfolk Southern train derailment through the village and surrounding communities into chaos and many in those communities are still not whole.

This weekend, a concert will take place in Rochester, Pennsylvania to raise relief for some of the needs that those who continue to live with the rail disaster say are still unmet.

“Back on Track: A Concert for Our Neighbors” will bring together Beaver County local bands and singers on Saturday from 3 to 10 p.m. The concert will be held at Rochester Riverfront Park – a short 30-minute drive from East Palestine — located at Water St., Rochester. All proceeds from the concert directly benefit the Ohio Valley Derailment Mutual Aid direct relief fund for affected residents in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

According to its page on givebutter.com, Ohio Valley Derailment Mutual Aid (OVDMA) is “a grassroots 501 c3 organization committed to directly supporting the affected residents of the Ohio Valley region from this chemical disaster that was completely preventable — no red tape, no bureaucracy, just immediate relief.”

OVDMA said “every dollar raised goes toward safe housing and relocation assistance for displaced families, medical support, including testing and treatment for chemical exposure, clean water, food and essential supplies for affected residents and long-term recovery efforts for those rebuilding their lives.”

“Unlike large nonprofits or government programs, mutual aid is people helping people, immediately and directly,” OVDMA said. “We listen to the needs of the community and respond with urgency. This crisis isn’t over. The people of East Palestine, Western Pennsylvania, and the Ohio Valley need us now more than ever.”

The concert lineup includes headliner and Jerry Garcia tribute band Reuben’s Painted Mandolin, Beaver County’s David Granati, Tarra Layne of “The Voice,” funk band Mean Blue Planets and Beaver County singer-songwriter Jenah Shank. The event also will feature vendors, food trucks, and alcohol sales.

Tickets are $20 at the gate, $15 pre-sale, and $5 for children under 13, and can be found at givebutter.com/OVDMABackOnTrack.

“Rooted in principles of mutual aid, environmental justice, and community solidarity, OVDMA was founded by residents, organizers, and allies across the region to provide direct assistance, distribute vital health and safety resources, and amplify the voices of those most affected by the disaster — particularly rural or low-income families are often left behind in official recovery efforts,” OVDMA said. “Our work continues today, grounded in the belief that no one is disposable, and that those closest to the harm must be centered in healing and resistance.”

The Food and Water Watch Pennsylvania and Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community (BCMAC) in collaboration with OVDMA are presenting the concert.

selverd@mojonews.com