By RYAN SKAITH
St. Joseph Post
Residents will have a chance to hear several area bands perform at Coleman Hawkins Park in St. Joseph this weekend during the 15th annual 'Bluegrass Battles Hunger' food drive to benefit Second Harvest Community Food Bank.
CEO of Second Harvest, Chad Higdon, is looking forward to this year's event, "We're really excited about the bands and the lineup and people coming out to support Second Harvest."
While the event is free, Second Harvest Community Food Bank will accept nonperishable food items, such as peanut butter, cereal, and pastas, as well as monetary donations.
Higdon says there are some limitations on what can and cannot be accepted, "We can't take fresh proteins or anything cold because there is no refrigeration on site. And we try to avoid glass containers."
Higdon notes that in past years the event has raised anywhere between 1,000 - 2,000 pounds of food. He emphasizes the food bank always utilizes both food and monetary donations. "We know through their buying power that they are really able to make those dollars go far."
Second Harvest serves approximately 40,000 individuals throughout eighteen counties in Northwest Missouri.
The lineup for Friday evening includes performers, Beth and Brandon, Dewpew and Morris, and Boxcar Brethren. The music begins at 6:00.
Beginning at 4:00 Saturday afternoon the event includes performances by, The St. Joseph Fine Arts Academy, Natalie Prausser, Rural Grit Allstars, Cameron Keeling and the Runaway Train, and True North.
Food vendors will be on site throughout the event.