“MUSIC 4 MEALS” Charity Music Event Raises Food, Funds, and Awareness For Local Food Banks

By Holy Trinity Jul 02, 2008

After the success of the first Music4Meals event last December, coordinators Chris and Julie Marasco were encouraged to hold a summer event on Saturday July 26, once again assembling a free outdoor concert and asking attendees to bring in exchange food and supplies for the needy.

 “The event was a huge success”, exclaimed Julie Marasco, lead coordinator.  “The day was beautiful and the crowd included people traveling from outside Conejo Valley to help support the cause.”

 The “Music4Meals” event was held outdoors on the church grounds and featured talented local teen musician Hunter Buchanan, The Shades, Zen-Boogie, Masters of Space and Time, and Holy Trinity’s children’s choir The Aisle Cruisers.  The Shades features Johnny Garcia and Chris Marasco as guitarists and singers.

 “We’d really like to thank our local sponsors who supported their community by donating food and other materials:  Holy Trinity, Trader Joe’s in Thousand Oaks, Vons on Moorpark Road and Newbury Road, Ralph’s on Ventu Park, Costco of Westlake Village, Party Max, Subway, Mimi’s Café, Ameci Pizza and Stuft Pizza all of Thousand Oaks, California Pizza Kitchen in Westlake Village and Chili’s in Newbury Park.  Mike Stahl of ATK Audiotek donated their professional sound system for the event.

 Marasco was thrilled with the event’s results.  “So far we’ve raised over $1700 in cash and collected over 100 bags of groceries for the food shelters at a crucial time, which exceeded the results of our last event!  We’re really thankful for this community effort.” 

 All donated proceeds are being distributed to Lutheran Social Services, MANNA, and those who attend the weekly Monday night meals program hosted by Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.