Concert will benefit food pantry

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October 7, 2008

BY BARBARA GREENBERG The Commercial-News Tue Oct 07, 2008, 02:52 PM CDT

DANVILLE — More and more Americans live from pay check to pay check. In recent months, many have been forced to live without a pay check at all.

Often, it’s just a matter of weeks until that first missed pay check begins to take its toll.

Danville is no exception to this scenario. As the unemployment rate increases, more and more local residents find themselves needing help.

According to Chuck Brooks, Danville Area Food Pantry director, “We’ve seen a huge increase in the numbers of families we serve.”

Brooks said that last October, 250 families received assistance in the form of food. During September, 323 families benefited from the Danville Area Food pantry. In 2007, the pantry served more than 3,500 families or 8,116 individuals.

“Our resources don’t equal the demand for our services,” Brooks said. “Our grocery prices have doubled in some cases, too, just like everyone else’s.”

Deeper Blues, a local band, addressed this crisis in March with a five-hour concert they titled Foodstock. Four bands performed free of charge and total contributions amounted to $5,000.

Following that success, a Foodstock Fall Festival was planned. That day-long concert takes place Saturday in Lincoln Park.

As with the first Foodstock, admission is free but a donation of food or money is strongly suggested.

Deeper Blues, Doc Ashton & the Root Canals, Phaze II and the New Kingdom Christian Church Choir, the four groups that performed at the first Foodstock, will appear once again.

They’ll be joined by local bands The Goodfellas and Benny Jenkins and Flathead Six. Two groups from Chicago, Fifth World and Urban Squirrel, will perform as well. All bands appear for free.

“It’s an eclectic mix of music,” Lane Baldwin, executive producer of the event and Deeper Blues’ bassist/vocalist, said. “More music, more fun.”

Danville Township Trustee Larry Weatherford said, “If you're among those served by the Food Pantry, and you can't afford to make a donation, that's OK, too. Just come out and enjoy the day.”

The Danville Area Food Pantry occupies the Danville Township No. 2 Building at 141 N. Walnut St. The second floor is used for food storage, and Danville Township workers help with intake and distribution.

“Everyone seems to be worried about the state of the economy now,” Weatherford said, “but for some people, their financial position bottomed out before the government declared it a crisis.

“Those people, whose reasons vary for needing food from the food pantry, have been in crisis mode for sometime,” he said.

In addition to the music, other fundraising activities will include gift basket raffles, 50/50 drawings and special auctions.

“It's important to attend, enjoy the entertainment and bring along some food for those who need it,” Weatherford said.

IF YOU GO

The Foodstock Fall Festival, a benefit for Danville Area Food Pantry, takes place from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday at Lincoln Park. For more information, visist http://danvillefoodstock.com.

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