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Rain Spoils Feed the Hungry Concert, Organizers Appeal to Community for Help

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BRADENTON – Saturday was all set to be the biggest Giving Hunger the Blues festival in the event's 22-year history. With a full-lineup of A-list performers on two stages, bay-front along the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center, organizers of the 100 percent volunteer effort were expecting record turnout after hundreds of hours of preparation.


However, as with any outdoor event in our state, its success was tied to our fickle fall weather, and persistent showers from a tropical depression that stubbornly hung over Sarasota's skies for more than eight hours during the all-day event kept thousands of music fans at bay. The expected audience of more than 5,000, shrunk to mere hundreds.


While the musicians and music lovers made the best of the situation, the event barely broke even with expenses. As a result, more than one ton of food donations expected to help the most vulnerable members of our community, has not come to fruition. However, the need to feed, protect and nurture during the upcoming holiday season remains very real.


Promoter Peter Anderson, who revived the event in 2015, said he was initially devistated by the turn of events and realization that the festival would not have an impact on those who needed it.


"I woke up the next morning, and I couldn't even get out of bed," said Anderson. "I just kept replaying the events in my mind, feeling overwhelmed by the way things turned out."


(L) Twinkle gets set to take stage (R) Fans make the most of a wet day


But what came next gave Anderson a whole new reason to carry on the GHTB mission. He and fellow event organizer Eileen Heathington met at Van Wezel, where the winds were still pushing relentlessly off Sarasota Bay, to finish cleaning up the grounds. While they were there, a chance encounter with some of the very people the event aims to help, put their mission in clear perspective.


"After making several trips to the storage unit, Eileen and I were on the lawnlooking at the last of what had to be cleaned up and carried out," said Anderson. "I said to Eileen that we should ask some of the homeless people who were huddled in the corner of the patio trying to stay warm, to help us. When I went over to ask them, I noticed that they were eating what looked to be 'leftovers' from our event. Needless to say, these folks were more than happy to help, especially after they asked what the event had been for and we told them we were trying to raise money for the Mayors Feed the Hungry program. Afterward, one of the guys asked if there was anything else they could do to help, and another actually reached into his pocket and pulled out some crumpled bills and offered to make a donation. I was moved to tears."


Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio


In that poignant moment, the entire spirit of Giving Hunger the Blues came full circle, and the duo thought of another way they could help those right in front of them.


"Eileen suggested that we give them the tarps from the damaged tents," said Anderson. "We ended up giving them at least one perfectly good tent, another salvageable one and a couple of the tarps. Their gratitude was amazing."


Mike Kach, Rj Howson & Friends


The happenings left Anderson more determined than ever to not allow one day of bad weather to spoil such a worthy cause. This week, he set up a GoFundMe page and is asking the community to come together and give what they can to ensure that those who count on the donations to remain food secure over the holiday season do not have to go without.


You can make secure donations at the official GoFundMe page here. 100 percent of all donations will go toward feeding the hungry in our community over this holiday season, and donations are 100 percent tax deductible. Together, we can still give hunger the blues in our community.

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