Whether it be a hurricane in the south, a tragic shooting somewhere, or just someone they may or may not know going through tough times, Omaha musicians are known for donating their time and their tunes. It is during the Christmas time, though, that many people find themselves thinking more of others than themselves. It is only natural then that the Omaha music community come out in full force around this time to raise some money with their time and talents. This year marks years three and five for two separate fundraising ventures involving local musicians and causes close to home. Many events over the next two weeks will keep Omaha music fans busy watching their favorite musicians and digging deep into their pockets for good causes.

Omaha musician Larry “Lash Larue” Dunn of rock-a-billy band the Mercurys is celebrating the Fifth Annual Toy Drive for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Pine Ridge is considered one of the most poverty stricken areas in the country and every year Dunn holds a series of events to raise money and collect toys for the kids in the area. They have also donated to diabetes funds and heat funds on the reservation. Dunn and volunteers deliver the toys to the reservation themselves and last year took up two truckloads.

The fundraising effort gets bigger and bigger every year. What originally started off as a string of shows has grown to a radio telethon and this year a CD to accompany the shows and a good cause. The CD “Christmas For Pine Ridge Volume One” is an affair whose participants can be proud of not just because they donated their time, but because of many of the music accomplishments on the disc. Featured on the CD are Korey Anderson, Brad Horshaw and the Seven Deadlies, the Side Effects, Vago, the Black Squirrels, 112 North Duck and many more. Many of the original songs on the CD will be listened to year-round, and the interpretations of Christmas classics are appealing, original and not your standard fare. The CD can be found at all events, all Homer’s Music stores, Liquid Courage, and Garage Guitar.

The toy drive events kicked off this past Tuesday with a listening party for the CD at the Waiting Room. This weekend’s shows start Friday, Dec. 5 at the Waiting Room with Korey Anderson, the Filter Kings and the Mercurys. On Saturday, Vago, Michael Campbell and Brad Hoshaw and the Seven Deadlies take the stage in support at Mick’s. Sunday will close out the concert portion of the drive at Barfly with Mike Morgan and the Crawl, Jim Suhler, the Side Effects and the Loose Brothers. Admission to each of the shows is $10 or one new unwrapped toy. On Sunday, Dec. 14 from 8 a.m. to noon, 89.7 the River will be hosting a live telethon on air featuring many local celebrities and musicians. The telethon will take place during Mike Fratt and Rick Galusha’s weekly radio shows.

Local music fan Jeff Shepard’s “Homeless for the Holidays” event started out with a CD. Shepard put out “Homeless for the Holidays, Volume 1” with some of his favorite local acts three years ago and has scheduled shows each of the following years to promote the disc and raise some extra money for Sienna Francis House which does work with abused women and their families. That CD features Scott Severin and the Milton Burlesque, Anonymous American, Icares, Kill Bosby, Richard Schultz and more. Rumor has it that Shepard, whom is known as “Guru” to many in the local music scene, is working on a follow up disc for next year.

There are two events coming up for the “Homeless for the Holidays” benefit starting with a seven-band affair at the Saddle Creek Bar Friday, Dec. 5 with Two Drag Club, Beta Minus, the Beat Seekers, No Blood Orphan, Rock Paper Dynamite, Sleepy House, and Fredjack. The following Saturday (Dec. 13) Scott Severin and the Milton Burlesque, Thunder Power, Kill Bosby, Secret Kitten and the Holy Steamroller, Richard Schultz and the Big Al Band will take the stage at the Roxbury for the second benefit. The “Homeless for the Holidays” CDs can be found at both of these events along with all Homer’s locations.