Unusual Channel One Fundraiser Puts Rochester Musician to Work

"There are 12,550 people in Olmsted County who have limited or uncertain access to adequate food. Please help end hunger in our region by donating today."

Donation Fact: When you donate one dollar, you're feeding a meal to four people. If they hit their cash goal by April 7th, they'll be able to feed a meal to 800,000 people.

That's how Jessica Sund, the Communications and Event Manager at Channel One Regional Food Bank started off the conversation she, John Sievers, and I had the other day.

I asked Jessica what food insecurity looks like in real life.

Jenna was raising three kids on her own, had a good job, and had worked hard to raise her family out of the cycle of poverty. Then the place she works restructured and eliminated her position. She didn't do anything wrong, just a thing that happeend.

If you've been laid off, you can imagine how she doubted everything and felt very alone. She got to Channel one with all sorts of documentation, and Gina, a team member, put the paperwork aside and got her set up for assistance with no barriers. She only needed to express her need for help in these hard times. Within minutes, Jenna pulled a cart into the Food Shelf and began selecting eggs, baked items, peanut butter, fresh produce, and other groceries to feed her little ones.

I used to be on the Channel One board and I have seen those moments. Someone arrives and they are tense, worried, stressed, and within minutes, you see their shoulders relax as they feel hope again.

I told you all that so I could tell you this, John Sievers, well-known Jazz King in Rochester, has proven to be an incredibly caring member of our community. He puts himself out there and takes chances to amplify important messages. And he's doing again with food insecurity during the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign with Shifts for Food Shelves.

Donation Fact: All dollars and pounds of food during this campaign stay local

WHAT IS "SHIFTS FOR FOOD SHELVES"? 

John Sievers will be working shifts at various local businesses. And in exchange, those businesses are making donations to Channel One. You'll find John at...

• Café Steam - February 26 1:00 – 5:00
• Cameo (at the Castle) - March 14
• Bleu Duck - March 21 5:00 – 9:00
• People’s Food Coop - March 27, 3:30 – 6:00

Donation Fact: Your help is needed to reach their goal by collecting $200,000 and 260,000 pounds of food by April 7th, 2019. 

To donate, click HERE

Listen to James Rabe 6a to 10a on Y-105 FM