BENNINGTON — The Hoping Machine, a musical group founded by Sarah Guthrie, will join Climate Advocates Bennington at the celebration of Earth Day, Saturday, April 27 from 6-9 p.m. at Second Congregational Church, 115 Hillside St., Bennington.

The Hoping Machine, a group of activists and musicians, believe in the power of song to inspire and motivate. "We show up at rallies, marches and other events to sing songs of solidarity around issues such as climate change, environmental justice, civil rights, women's rights, gun violence, and refugee protection," the group said in a release. "We sing for a peaceful and sustainable future built on our shared commitment to one another on a finite planet." The theme for the celebration this year is Feeding the Resistance.

We are feeding the resistance by nourishing the body with a potluck meal starting at 6:00 pm. Bring a dish to share if you want. We will then feed our senses with a variety of art projects: decorating reusable bags, writing and reciting poems, telling stories of hope, drawing graffiti on blackboards. The Hoping Machine nourishes our senses with a hootenanny around 7:30.

Everyone is encouraged to search their closets, pantries, cupboards and bring us the spare reusable bags. We will redistribute them to low-income people.

Come for part of it or come for all of it. Participate in the community of resisters and re-creators.

Climate Advocates Bennington is a chapter of 350VT. The group's mission is to educate, communicate and take action on environmental and climate change issues at the local, state, national and global levels. For more information, contact Barbara True-Weber, coordinator of Climate Advocates Bennington 350VT, at 802-681-7236.