The annual Blizzard Bash will assemble some of Northeast Ohio’s top musical talents on Feb. 8 at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland’s North Collinwood neighborhood.
The concert, sponsored by John Carroll University students and staff members from WJCU 88.7 FM and NeoRocks!, will benefit the Hunger Network as it has for the past 17 years. The supporters aim to pass last year’s donation of over 12,000 meals.
Zachary Sinutko, a DJ with WJCU 88.7, joined the Blizzard Bash team two years ago as a junior at JCU.
“When I came aboard, we were just getting out of the pandemic,” he said. “My thought was let’s bring the community back to a sense of normality. Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland provides meals to people in and around the greater Cleveland community. So, they have a cool way of distributing the donation. With every dollar you donate to the Hunger Network, through their connections, matching, and sponsorships, they can stretch that dollar to produce three different meals. All donations are a tax write-off because it’s a 501(c)3.”
Even before the first band hits the stage, the sponsors have already raised $2,250 in donations. According to Sinutko, once he became part of the project, he set up “pre-funding.” In the past, they had only done advance ticket sales. Seeing it as a lost opportunity, he forged ahead and created a Facebook charity page, pre-fundraisers, a GoFundMe, and the Hunger Network set up a direct link on their website where contributors can donate to the hunger network through Blizzard Bash. That alone is why organizers predict they’ll blow past last year’s total of $3,000, which provided 12,000 meals. It looks like they’re on the right track, he said. Suggested donations for the concert are $10.
Fighting hunger
According to the Hunger Network’s website, over 40 years ago, the Interchurch Council of Greater Cleveland created the Hunger Task Force after seeing drastic cuts in programs that helped those suffering from food insecurity.
In 1995, the Hunger Task Force created the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland.
The organization is involved with several third parties interested in supporting the Network’s mission.
“We are very fortunate to have been approached by Zach and his folks to be the beneficiary of this concert they’re giving,” said Mitch Wasserman, chief development officer of Hunger Network. “We’re thrilled to be a part of it. And you know, the relationship we have with them is thriving.
“Our approach is two-pronged. One is around hunger relief, and we work with 71 community-based hunger relief centers, such as a pantry in the church or some other facility where people can come and satisfy their food needs. We’re open 10 days a month, and it’s self-choice. We don’t offer pre packaged bags. People come in as if it was a grocery store. They may have a shopper going around with them, but they make their selections.”
The Network has implemented a food rescue program. It saves edible items with a blemish or two from being discarded. The program will distribute many pounds of potatoes and other nutritional goods in collaboration with a local produce distributor.
The Food Rescue project is always looking for volunteers to pick up donations from donors from distribution centers, grocery stores, and restaurants.
The volunteers are engaged through the Food Rescue app, which can be downloaded to iOS and Android devices. Once it is downloaded, volunteers can claim available weekly and one-time rescues via the app, which are listed by location, date, and time. The dispatcher identifies available volunteers within 5 miles of the donor, and then the Food is delivered to one of the Network’s nonprofit recipients for distribution to their constituents.
According to Wasserman, Hunger Network does not accept exposed food. The potential for illness is too high. An example would be a pasta dish where a donor removed the cover.
Meet the bands
The concert lineup includes Ziggy D of C-Level, Esther Fitz, JT’s Spark Trio, and Mr. Carnivore. Doors open at 7 p.m. Food and drink will be available for purchase. The Beachland is at 15711 Waterloo Rd., Cleveland.
Wasserman says volunteers’ effort for the upcoming concert has restored his faith in people.
“Oh, my gosh,” he said. “Knowing that people do these things without reward but because it’s the right thing to do is gratifying.”
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