With hurricanes battering the Atlantic and other parts of the world experiencing tragedies, the spirit of giving is on a lot of people’s minds. To help with this giving, Vallejo’s Empress Theatre will be hosting a concert with acclaimed entertainer Sir Stryker in which the proceeds will go to two local charities that serve Solano County’s homeless population: the Solano-Napa Habitat for Humanity and Vallejo First Baptist Church’s Sparrow Project.

The show will be emceed by local actor John Burke and Benicia resident Deirdre Doohan Cruz, the daughter of original “Star Trek” actor James Doohan—who played Enterprise Capt. Montgomery “Scotty” Scott.

Cruz had gotten in contact with Stryker and told him about her son Logan, who is the drummer for the Danville band Sad Vegan. Stryker later hired Logan to lay down drum tracks for his new album.

“It started basically as inviting him to fly out here so we could launch the CD,” she said. “It then escalated into a charity event that I worked with the Empress on a little bit.”

Having experienced difficult circumstances, Stryker is a big proponent of giving. The Los Angeles-based pianist began performing gospel music at the age of 9 and would perform in 32 states a year until the age of 16. He then became the piano player for a troupe of can-can dancers at a theme park saloon and earned a fifth-degree black belt in martial arts. After that, his life went downhill. His possessions, including his editing gear, were stolen and he was without a home. He moved in with his mother, and after she was diagnosed with cancer he returned to music as a means to support her.

“I would like that horrible period in my life to mean something,” he said in a statement.

Now performing under the Sir Stryker moniker, the pianist puts on a concert series in America and New Zealand called “A Story of Hope” where he tells stories of his journey in between songs and helps raise money for the homeless.

“He loves to do this and give back to the homeless,” Cruz said.

Helping others has also been a passion of Cruz, who has worked with Girl Scouts for most of her life and is currently a volunteer with the Kyle Hyland Foundation for Teen Support. In discussing beneficiaries for the concert, the Empress suggested the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and Northgate Christian Fellowship staff suggested the Sparrow Project. Habitat for Humanity works to build affordable housing and is currently working with the city of Dixon to build a permanent home for veterans. The Sparrow Project serves hot meals to the homeless in Vallejo and also provides clothing, shelter, computer access and household items. Stores like Raley’s and Safeway in Benicia provide food, but since the program is not federally funded, donations of food and other items are accepted to keep it going.

Cruz said “Care Kits”— sealable bags with items like shampoos, toothpaste, ponchos, granola bars and information about local services— can be picked up at the show and delivered to homeless people. She also said that those who are unable to attend the show can buy a ticket through the Empress website, which will then be donated to an interested attendee who can not afford to go.

“You go online, and in the ‘Notes’ section when purchasing your ticket, you write ‘donation’ and choose ‘will call for the donation,’” she said.

Proceeds will be split through the ticket sales, 50/50 raffle and purchase of Stryker’s new CD “Mosaic,” which comes out at the end of the month. The album was recorded in Nashville and features percussion by Logan Cruz as well as vocals by Kyla Jade, a backup singer for Jennifer Hudson, on a duet called “Every.” The album was produced by Zac Maloy, a former member of ‘90s rock band The Nixons who went on to produce albums for such acts as Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Hanson, Shinedown, Daughtry, Adam Lambert and more. Twenty percent of the proceeds from the album at the concert will benefit both charities.

Cruz, whose son will be playing drums in the show, said the event is all about providing awareness of the two charities as well as establishing a sense of hope.

“It really is a very heartwarming, uplifting performance and you come away with a sense of hope for people and how you can help someone else,” she said. “He also gives you a real view into what it’s like to be homeless and gives you a different view of a person you might see on the street.”

One major theme of the event is how music can be used to support others going through hard times.

“Music helps people,” she said. “It obviously helped Stryker get out of his homelessness and help recover from that tragedy in his life.”

Cruz also believes the event will be a great opportunity for people to support local charities.

“Sometimes you have to look in your own backyard and help locally,” she said. “This is a great opportunity for people to come and support live music on top of all of these charities.”

“Sir Stryker in Concert: A Story of Hope” will be held at 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Empress Theatre, located at 330 Virginia St. in Vallejo. The doors open an hour earlier at 7. Tickets are $20 online, $25 at the door and free for children 12 and under. For more information, including tickets, go to https://empresstheatre.org/events/sir-stryker-in-concert-a-story-of-hope or call 552-2400. For further information on the charities being supported, go to solanonapahabitat.org and fbcvallejo.com/the-sparrow-project.