Kaitlyn Baker Presents Concert to Benefit School Nutrition Program Today

Nashville recording artist Kaitlyn Baker will help raise money to cover the cost of school lunches in her hometown, when she performs at J.W. Adams Combined School in Pound, Virginia, today, March 27. Proceeds from the show will benefit the school's Lunchbox Project, which provides nutritious food for students in need.

"We are thrilled to have Kaitlyn performing for such a great cause," said Principal Rick Bolling. "The Lunchbox Project is important, because there is a lot of economic hardship in our area. About 65 percent of our students are on free or reduced lunch."

Much of Southwestern Virginia has experienced high unemployment in recent years, due to the closing of many coal mines and reduced production because of changes in government regulations and an increase in natural gas production. The effect of the economic decline inspired one of Baker's songs, "Coal Train," which is included in the Official 2015 Academy of Country Music (ACM) ZinePak.

The 2-CD set features tracks by ACM Award nominees including Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Maddie & Tay and others, in addition to 15 emerging artists. Baker will sign copies of the ZinePak at the Walmart SuperCenter in nearby Norton, Virginia, on Saturday, March 28, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Baker's "Coal Train" video can be seen here .

Baker's Friday night concert, meanwhile, will include songs from a soon-to-be-released EP, including "Coal Train" and her current radio release "Burn." Baker said she is looking forward to returning to the school that helped motivate her to become a professional singer.

"I have great memories of J.W. Adams and the teachers and principals," she said. "Cathy Maggard was very instrumental in guiding me, musically. She could see that I was gravitating toward music, and she always encouraged me. Carter Hall was another one. I remember his encouragement, not just when he taught me in the fifth grade, but through my entire time at J.W. Adams."

Kaitlyn Baker will perform at J.W. Adams Combined School, 10824 Orby Cantrell Highway, Pound, VA 24279, on Friday, March 27, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for ages 11 and up; $5 for ages 10 and under. Tickets can be purchased at KaitlynBaker.BrownPaperTickets.com/. For information, call 276-796-5419.

On Saturday, March 28, Kaitlyn Baker will sign copies of the Official 2015 ACM Awards ZinePak at the Walmart SuperCenter, 780 Commonwealth Dr., Norton, VA 24273, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. For information, call 276-679-7327.

Information about Kaitlyn Baker is available at www.KaitlynBaker.com.

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