Dayton, OH – (March 24, 2009) – The League of American Orchestras; Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization; and Participant Media joined forces for Orchestras Feeding America, a large-scale national food drive. More than 160 orchestras in 45 states participated in this unprecedented coordinated effort by collecting and donating food to their local food assistance agency or food bank within Feeding America’s network of more than 200 food banks and 63,000 agencies.
The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra teamed with The Foodbank (427 Washington Street) to set up unmanned food collection barrels in the Schuster Center lobby the afternoon of Friday, March 13 that remained in place until Monday, March 23. The barrels were placed near the Main Street, Second Street, and Ludlow Street doors of the Schuster Center, respectively. As the result of the participation of generous concertgoers and other private citizens from the Dayton area, the DPO’s Food Drive netted 620 pounds of foodstuffs for The Foodbank to distribute to the area’s needy.
“The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra is happy to have had the opportunity to participate in this worthwhile process,” Paul Helfrich, DPO President, stated. “It has provided yet another example of the generosity and volunteer spirit of the people of the Dayton area and their ability – and willingness – to help one another through difficult times.”