Submitted by Jen Burak
The 3rd annual Music Under The Trees took place on Tuesday, July 28, at a wonderful riverside property on Berry Street. The event, hosted by Kim Neuendorff and Peter Hamill, saw a crowd of over 70 folks who all arrived with lawn chairs in tow to gather for a great backyard concert.
Musician Kyle McAdams took to the porch stage to entertain the crowd with his amazingly rich, gutsy vocals and fabulous guitar playing. The rain held off, the community gathered and the beautiful garden atmosphere made it a truly magical evening.
Clearly, Meaford is a community that cares and this event showed that spirit in spades. Host Kim Neuendorff volunteers at the local food bank and she requested that attendees contribute cash and/or food for the Meaford Food Bank. She was thrilled to drop off over $600 cash to the Food Bank along with a carload of food.
Nellie Greb, president of Meaford Food Bank and Outreach, was in attendance and was able to provide the audience with some valuable information about the work that is done to help folks in need. Located in the basement of Rotary House, the Meaford Food Bank is open on Monday mornings and Thursday evenings, serving approximately 325 individuals each month.
Food insecurity is a major social issue that is getting worse over time.
Prices keep going up for everything and we all feel it. We grumble, we cut back, or we simply grin and bear it. However, for some folks, stark choices are made between food, rent, and other essentials every month.
According to Nellie Greb, “The vast majority of our operating expenses are covered by the generosity of our local community, including local stores, businesses, farms, gardens, charitable organizations like Rotary, and of course, individual donors.”
In addition to the weekly food program, Meaford’s Food Bank provides Christmas hampers for about 275 families. It also administers the Christmas Star gift program for kids, providing toys, clothing, and gift cards for about 300 children. There is also a recreation fund to help families afford fees for various activities.
While sitting under the stars listening to Kyle sing and strum, we were all reminded of the power of community to come together to support the artists in our midst and to help out those in need. If you would like more information about the Meaford Food Bank visit: https://www.meafordfoodbankandoutreach.org/, or to check out artist Kyle McAdams visit @kylemcadamsmusic
