Local musicians show can-do spirit

It'll be music for the ears and food for thought at the Twelve Bands of Christmas festival.

The Dec. 5 festival at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds exhibition hall is an expansion of a similar holiday event held last year, the Music Extravaganza, created by Betty and Rodney J. Richmond of Adams to support local food pantries.

Mr. Richmond is the lead singer of the popular local country and western band Whitetail. His wife manages the band and her husband's solo act. The Richmonds' record label, Red White and Blue Records, is a sponsor of the event, along with the Jefferson County Fairgrounds and the Watertown Wizards.

"The Urban Mission and other food pantries need all the help they can get at this time of year," Mrs. Richmond said.

She said the bands also will get something out of the event.

"Whitetail, and all of the musicians involved, have been fortunate to be able to do what we do," Mrs. Richmond said. "This benefit gives us all an opportunity to give something back to the community that keeps us playing music."

Mrs. Richmond said support has been tremendous. "We're still getting bands coming out of the woodwork wanting to help," she said.

But organizers had to limit it to 12. Mrs. Richmond said there will be music for all tastes, from bluegrass to jazz.

Admission to Twelve Bands of Christmas is 20 canned and/or personal items per person or $10 per person.

Paul Simmons, co-organizer of the event, said 3,000 items were collected for local food pantries last year.

A goal of 20,000 items has been set for this year.

A similar event is being planned for the summer. Mr. Simmons said he was told by food pantry officials that their most critical need is in the summer, when donations drop off.

A federal report released this month showed that nearly 50 million people in the U.S., including almost one child in four, struggled last year to get enough to eat.

"We have tossed around a few different formats, including events that may span more than one day," Mrs. Richmond said of a summer festival. "We have even considered a Woodstock-style event that spans a weekend. We have had so much interest from bands and sponsors."

Mr. Simmons said the pantries have listed their top needed items.

For food: canned tuna, soup, cereal, dry pasta, canned fruit, pork and beans, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter and jam.

For personal items: soap, razors, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toilet paper, shaving cream, laundry detergent and women's personal items.

He noted people don't have to haul the items to the concert for the entry tickets. He said there are several boxes around the area where people can drop off their donations and request a ticket at businesses where the boxes are located.

Mr. Simmons said the fundraiser has received lots of support from Watertown's Sunrise Rotary Club. "They are providing money and helpers," he said. "They are the ones running the event down there at the fairgrounds."

Mr. Simmons said businesses also have been contacted to donate to the fundraiser at one of four levels: $100, $250, $500 or $1,000.

He noted Hannaford Supermarkets is a major sponsor of the event.

Mr. Simmons, owner of the Watertown Wizards New York Collegiate Baseball League team, said donations for the festival are going through the Wizards organization. "We had to have a nonprofit to funnel the money through," he said.

Mr. Simmons said the Wizards and the NYCBL are nonprofit organizations.

Businesses interested in making a donation can make checks out to Watertown Wizards, 595 Coffeen St., Watertown, NY 13601.