Food drive to be part of Dave Matthews concert

GEORGE - The Dave Matthews Band will partner with a local farmer and area food banks to conduct a fundraising and canned food drive while the band is performing at the Gorge Amphitheatre on Aug. 30.

Moses Lake Food Bank organizers are seeking volunteers to help at the donation booth during the weekend. Two people are needed each day, Jeni Roberts, gleaning coordinator for the Moses Lake Food Bank, said. "Anyone who volunteers will be welcome to stay for the show that night," Roberts said.

The band will be at the Gorge Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and among the products for sale will be a band-theme water bottle. Money raised through sales of the bottles is donated to a local farm, Roberts said.

The donation goes to a farm that raises band-approved food (which in this case means non-GMO produce, according to the band's website). For 2014, the farm chosen was Cloudview Eco-Farms, headquartered in Royal City, Roberts said.

Cloudview will in turn donate produce of a value equivalent to the monetary donation to the Moses Lake Food Bank, Roberts said. The Moses Lake facility is the distribution center for other food banks around Grant and Adams counties, she said, so the fundraiser benefits recipients all over the county.

For the second year, the food bank will sponsor its own food drive as well, Roberts said. The foods collected will be distributed among area food banks, she said.

In 2013 the organization collected 300 pounds of cans, boxes and bags of non-perishable food, Roberts said. "Mainly from people who just didn't want to take it home from the weekend, I think," she said. They've set a goal of 500 pounds for 2014, she said.

The food bank's donation truck also will be in the campground during the weekend, she said.

Roberts said at least two volunteers are needed in the donation booth each day. The booth will be open from about 1:30 to 7:30 p.m., she said, "and then we'll close down and head out to the show."

People who want to volunteer can contact Roberts at the food bank, 509-765-8101.