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Summer Bicknell of Locopops recently called to Farmer Foodshare (www.farmerfoodshare.org), a local nonprofit that collects funds and fresh food for people in need. “If you get a call from the band Wilco, it’s real. Return it,” Bicknell told Margaret Gifford, the organization’s founder and executive director.
The Chicago-based band did call, and with a very good offer. Wilco‘s Sept. 27 performance at Raleigh Amphitheater coincides with the final day of the nonprofit’s fundraiser, Farmer Foodshare Challenge. “Wilco just called out of the blue to connect with it,” Gifford says.
Wilco will collect money (not food) at their concert and will donate 100 percent of the evening’s sales of their new album poster to Farmer Foodshare.
The challenge, which kicks off Sept. 20, aims to collect a ton (literally) of fresh food during the weeklong challenge. Farmer Foodshare will also accept funds to purchase such food. In addition, the group has printed 600 tote bags to give away to raise awareness about the challenge. Bags are available while supplies last from select sponsors, including Locopops and Empire Eats.
The goal is for tote bags to be used to stock up on food to donate at one of 10 local farmers markets participating in the challenge. Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Chatham Mills, Durham, Downtown Raleigh, Fearrington, Hillsborough, Southern Village and Western Wake are battling to collect the most food. Each will host a donation station during its regular hours.
For those who can’t make it to a participating market or Wilco’s Raleigh performance, Farmer Foodshare is accepting monetary donations online.
Walking Fish (www.walking-fish.org), a community-supported fishery that sells shares of seafood, recently received a call out of the blue, too. The message was from artist Douglas Gayeton, who has been working on a project called Lexicon of Sustainability. For that work, Gayeton traveled across the country for two years documenting sustainable food practices. The result is a selection of photo collages.
Gayeton printed 100 sets of 24 photos to exhibit in collaboration with sustainable food organizations throughout the country. In Durham, Walking Fish will present Gayeton’s work from 5 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 3 at Watts Grocery (1116 Broad St., 416-5040, www.wattsgrocery.com).
Watts Grocery chef Amy Tornquist will offer locally sourced appetizers, and the bar will be open. Gayeton’s photos will be available to purchase in a silent auction that ends at 7:45 p.m. Proceeds will be used to develop a national network of community-supported fisheries with localcatch.org.
The event is free, but RSVPs are requested. To attend, email info@walking-fish.org. Emily Wallace
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