STOMP has made it its mission to partner with food banks across the country to STOMP Out Hunger. The show began its quest to reduce hunger in North America with a partnership with Philabundance, the Philadelphia region’s largest hunger relief organization, in December of 2007. The producers were looking for a way to give back to the community and with the timing of the holidays the partnership was a natural one.
However, due to the current economic climate including high unemployment rates and state budget cuts, hunger organizations have seen an overwhelming demand for food assistance. As such, STOMP has dedicated itself to bringing attention to the heightened needs of food charities across the country all year round by sponsoring canned food drives and donating ticket proceeds in as many cities as possible.
“FeedMore WNY is grateful to STOMP and Shea’s Performing Arts Center for collaborating on this wonderful initiative to help STOMP Out Hunger in Western New York. In FeedMore’s four-county service area, nearly 165,000 people are food insecure, meaning they lack access to enough nutritious food to lead a healthy life. We encourage patrons of Shea’s to bring nonperishable food donations when they come to enjoy STOMP and help feed our neighbors in need,” Tara A. Ellis, president and CEO of FeedMore WNY, said.
Most needed items include cereal, peanut or other nut butters, canned tuna and chicken, canned soups/stews/chili, canned fruit, canned veggies, canned or dried beans, boxed mac & cheese, pasta and rice, spaghetti sauce, and baby food/formula/diapers.
Show your support by dropping off your donations at the Main Street and Pearl Street entrances, or at Shea’s Box Office at any performance of STOMP, coming to Shea’s Jan. 27-28. For show times and ticket information, visit sheas.org.