Festival benefits local food bank

This story ran on the front of the Local & State section in Metro. It was written on deadline for the next day's paper.

Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers rocked Sunday as more than 4,000 came out for the 16th annual River and Blues Festival.

They enjoyed the music, but they came for more — to support the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida.

The food bank, which works with 140 partner agencies in five counties, is seeing a 30 percent increase in clients in need of food, money and other services.

“This year more than ever ... this event is extremely important because with the economic situation in Southwest Florida, a lot of people in construction have lost their jobs,” said Fred Richards, the food bank’s development director. “We have such an increase in demand that we have to work harder.”

Working harder for the money is why the blues fest, for the first time in its history, lowered its entrance price from $10 to $5 to encourage people to attend.

“We just want people to come out and have a good time and help a good cause,” said Debbie Jordan, the president of the Lee and Charlotte County Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, who helped organize the event. “The economy has been really rough for everyone, and hopefully we will be able to double our efforts and raise more.”

Organizers brought together five area bands, expecting to raise atleast $20,000. Final figures should be available today. The money will be given to the food bank, which is able to buy food at a discount.

“We serve 60,000 square miles and that need adds up,” said Joyce Jacobs, the food bank’s associate director.

Jacobs, a 17-year veteran of the agency, said the need has never been as dire as what she has seen in the past six months.

For every dollar collected at the festival, Harry Chapin can provide $5 worth of food. The food is later delivered to its partner agencies.

Eula Shanks, 49, has been attending the festival for more than 12 years.

“We have people that need our help, and I might not know when I might need the help, too,” said Shanks of Lehigh Acres. “The economy is a bit tighter than it was before.”