The ARIA award-winning, platinum-selling recording artist, whose family is originally from India, says the yearly six-week Project Compassion collection, organised by Caritas, the Catholic Church's long-term development agency, was part of growing up.

"Caritas has always been at part of my life; at church I used to get these Project Compassion boxes; you'd donate every year to those in need across the world, and they'd sit on the mantelpiece in our house," Pinto says.

"They are such a strong memory, aren't they? They have such a heart to them, such a beautiful appeal and approach. People don't really know who Caritas are, they tend to fly under the radar; but they are the second-biggest charity in the world. They do work in places other charities can't or won't go to."

The COVID-19 outbreak has had a severe impact on the work Caritas can do around the world, with travel restrictions and the quarantining of societies.

Now the Voice, X-Factor and Dancing with the Stars vocal coach is giving a hand to Project Compassion by leading a free online concert, featuring artists Diesel, Matt Gresham, CBD, Natasha, Carmen Smith, and Bobby Lee Stamper with others still to be confirmed.

Pinto says the May 9 concert is dedicated to those most vulnerable to poverty and illness around the world, especially those threatened by outbreaks of COVID-19 in poor communities. He wants schoolchildren, teachers, churches and families across Australia to stand in solidarity with those less able to call upon the resources of government and charity to assist them.

He says he is thrilled to have been able to help get fellow artists together and to have been asked by Caritas to help - even if his involvement was courtesy of a case of mistaken identity.

"I was walking in Sydney towards a gig and I had my guitar on my back and this lady tapped me on the back and said, 'Are you Father Rob Galea?'" Gary Pinto recalls.

"He's a musician I work with, but I said, 'No, no, no, I'm actually Gary Pinto, but I know him.' And she said she was from Caritas. I said anything I can do to assist you, let me know, because I love what you do.

"Let me know if I can write a song or anything like that. Two days later I got a message asking if I could write a song for their 'Walk With Me' campaign."

Pinto wrote Walk With Me before COVID-19 became a global crisis, and it was originally intended to help put focus on the Project Compassion campaign. Now it has added poignancy - and urgency. Pinto says the song focusses on walking in solidarity with the marginalised and celebrating the dignity of every person globally.

"Here we can get a home delivery, we have governments who support us," he says.

"In Papua New Guinea or India or Nepal, it's not the same. I heard stories of people in India being forced from their homes and having to shelter in trees. The families have nowhere to go and the devastation at this time especially is massive.

With performers doing their shows from their own lounge rooms or studios, Pinto says the concert also highlights the strain distancing has put on our own communities and on the working lives of artists.

"On a work front? It's completely stopped all of our work," Pinto says.

"In television and in touring, the artists I was touring with have been cancelled; the Masked Singer has been cancelled; I don't know where we are with The Voice."

There are upsides though.

"On the homefront it's been a revelation. I've been home for the first time in 10 years, properly. My gutters are clean, my lawn is mowed, I'm having a great time with my wife and child everyday, ever]y day we have walks around the neighbourhood. We enjoy the slowness of life while appreciating the difficulties which are facing the world."

"Now is the time to put our faith in humanity into action. Together we can sing, together we can raise money and together we can walk alongside each other and in doing so be transformed in our own lives."

Caritas Australia's CEO, Kirsty Robertson has highlighted that if the virus hits places like the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh, or conflict-torn communities in the Middle East, the impact will be catastrophic.

"Communities like these have lacked sufficient access to proper sanitary living conditions and medical support, even before the spread of COVID-19," Ms Robertson said.

"The situation for people in these communities is already highly precarious, If you are in a position to donate to Caritas Australia, your donation will truly save lives."

You can access the concert at https://www.livemusic2u.com/loungeroomsessions/

To donate to Project Compassion visit Caritas Australia's website, lent.caritas.org.au or call 1800 024 413.