This dispatch was added by one of our Nonprofit Neighbors. It does not represent the editorial voice of The Rapidian or Community Media Center.
//EllieWalburg
Through a $5 donation cover charge, a 50/50 raffle, silent auction and a board match, the event on April 9 at Founders Brewing Co. raised $3,792 to support a thriving food system through programs at Access of West Michigan. The event featured The Honeytones, Conrad Shock and The Noise and The Legal Immigrants.
The silent auction and 50/50 raffle raised support for the programs at Access. /Ellie Walburg
What do rock’n’roll and food security have to do with each other? On Sunday, April 9, they came together in an entertaining way.
On a beautiful Sunday evening, Local Spins hosted the Feedback benefit concert supporting Access of West Michigan at Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids. The event featured great music from local bands of The Legal Immigrants, Conrad Shock and The Noise and The Honeytones.
The 23rd annual concert also drew in a $5 donation upon entry to support the programs at Access of West Michigan. Access also raised money in a 50-50 raffle and hosted a silent auction including prizes like a coffee Keurig and brewery paraphernalia.
Access of West Michigan is a nonprofit organization in Grand Rapids that works to cultivate solutions to poverty through the farm to pantry program, poverty education and casework.
With temperatures reaching into the low 70s on a Sunday evening in April, the venue was full, both inside and outside on the patio area.
The event also raised awareness about the issue of poverty in the community and shed light about opportunities Access provides. Several staff members at Access spent their evening mingling in the crowd and sharing about what Access does and how people can get involved.
The live bands who call Grand Rapids home brought energy to the attendees, as their genres align with the styles of rock’n’roll. The Honeytones opened the evening, led by John Sinkevics, Local Spins publisher and musician. He and his band, including Charley Honey, Tom Taylor, Matt Fouts and Susan Beerens, began and continue to lead the annual Feedback concert.
At 5:30, Conrad Shock and the Noise took the stage and energized the crowd with their catchy rock, blues and folk. Wrapping up the night was the rockin sounds of The Legal Immigrants, who know the Founders’ stage well.
The Access staff were ready to serve, by greeting, selling raffle tickets and sharing more about Access.
“I liked expressing support through music,” Brenda Nichols said, Poverty Education director at Access. “Several visitors donated far more than what they needed to for the cover charge. I liked just seeing so many people there to fight the fight against poverty.”
Not only was the staff impressed, but the attendees as well. "It was wonderful to see a large crowd on a Sunday afternoon come and support such a wonderful cause,” Denise, a visitor of the concert, said.
The support continued into the following week as Good Pizza Co. in Grand Rapids created their own “Honeytone” pizza, in honor of the fundraiser’s creators. From the week of April 10-16, $2 from each sale of this pizza was donated to Access.
Need a visual recap? Local Spins has a great review including even more photos and videos.
Didn’t get a chance to join or want to continue to support? On May 7, 2017, Access of West Michigan is having the 40th Annual Hunger Walk in downtown Grand Rapids. Learn more about this fun event! http://accessofwestmichigan.org/get-involved/events/hunger-walk/
by Ellie Walburg, Communications Intern at Access of West Michigan
The Rapidian, a program of the 501(c)3 nonprofit Community Media Center, relies on the community’s support to help cover the cost of training reporters and publishing content.
We need your help.
If each of our readers and content creators who values this community platform help support its creation and maintenance, The Rapidian can continue to educate and facilitate a conversation around issues for years to come.
Please support The Rapidian and make a contribution today.
