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A musical feast has taken over one table in the Union this week. It was reported over the news that some people in the Bangor area are being turned away from a local food pantry because there is simply not enough food to go around. Manna Soup Kitchen in Bangor usually provides 180 families a bag of groceries each week and serves up to 100 families a day in their soup kitchen, but recently have come up a little short. Food pantries call this the ‘dry season,’ the time before Thanksgiving when people may forget how much need there is.
Paul Groce, one of two music directors at WMEB, was upset when he heard this news. With some help from his colleagues at the station he was able to put together a fundraiser to help Manna. At one of the tables in the lower level of the Union, you will find a plethora of volunteers and an array of CDs that you have probably never heard of before. WMEB, which has a history of holding food drives, has taken all of the CDs it does not use and put them to good use. For any non-perishable food item or dollar donated you may pick out any three CDs from the boxes at the booth.
“They’re artists that you’ve probably never heard of, half the fun is just getting music you’ve never listened to before and you’re helping a good cause. It’s pretty good: three CDs for $1, Best Buy can’t beat that,” said Groce, who is one of the organizers of this event. He encourages donators to “just close your eyes and pick.”
Manna’s web site says “Food drives are an excellent way to raise food for our food cupboard and soup kitchen. Be creative, and think of new ways to collect or raise money to buy food items for Manna.”
That is exactly what WMEB is doing. Bill Ray, the executive director of Manna in Bangor, said they’re “really in need of food” and to “Please consider your neighbor”. He says that they are looking forward to WMEB’s food drive and would like to thank everybody involved. “When you have a soup kitchen full and not much in the cupboards downstairs you get worried.”
The food drive has been going on since Monday of this week. The table will be open today and some times next week.
“As of right now we are going to be doing the drive until sometime next week. I believe we want to do it outside on a day that is nice next week and broadcast live,” says Groce. Next week’s times will be announced at a later date over the WMEB radio station.
