Foodstock
Charities was born when Lane Baldwin's band Deeper Blues wanted
to commemorate the release of its new CD, Dig the Hole.
The band decided the best way to celebrate the release was
to serve its community in a "Blues Approved" way.
As Lane explains it:
"Deeper
Blues is all about honoring the tradition behind the Blues
as it was in the beginning. A strong sense of community,
and the support of each member of that community is integral
to that tradition. Now, who do you know that needs help
more than those who are unable to feed their children?
"There
are several among our team who, at one time or another,
have had to rely on the kindness of others to put food on
the table. I'm one of them. I know about the lonliness and
despair that goes with that. And we all want to address
that in our community, to bring some hope to those in dire
need."
In the
beginning, the project team included current members of Deeper
Blues and their families. Now, as the band has changed members,
the project team includes Lane's wife, Glenda Ford-Baldwin,
and close friend Monty Schroeder, and a total volunteer force
of almost 30 people involved in various projects.
In 2008,
Foodstock Charities produced two benefit concerts, which raised
almost ten thousand dollars in food and donations in support
of the Danville Area Food Pantry. In January, 2009, it launched
a series of monthly Sunday dinners, offered free to all, but
focused on feeding those in need. Our goals are to serve food
and hope to the neediest in our area, and to build stronger
bonds within the community.
Another
exciting opportunity that the organization is pursuing is
to expand the benefit concerts to other areas of the country.
To date, we are working with volunteers in San Francisco,
Sacremento, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Nashville. In Illinois,
we are working with several groups interested in serving food
to those in need.
The Life
with Spirit Foundation is a Charter Sponsor of Foodstock Charities
and its first chapter, Danville Foodstock. To learn more about
their work, volunteer or make a donation directly to Foodstock
Charities, please visit the following sites:
Danville
Foodstock
Foodstock
Charities
