POUGHKEEPSIE – An annual concert to benefit Dutchess Outreach was held Saturday night and it is being hailed as a “huge success” according to promoter Ryan Michael. Dutchess Outreach is a Poughkeepsie-based organization that helps clients with a multitude of issues including food insecurity, prescription assistance, clothing, and other emergency assistance.
On Saturday, the Foodstock Fund, spearheaded by Ryan Michael and Lorenzo Angelino, gathered six bands of various genres and held the fundraiser concert at the historic Chance Theater. Hundreds of people gathered to enjoy the show, with the proceeds benefitting Dutchess Outreach. “This was our 12th annual benefit concert and we are beyond grateful for the outpouring of support from our community,” said Michael.
Representatives from Dutchess Outreach were set up outside the theater collecting non-perishable food items from patrons. “The generosity of the Foodstock attendees is nothing short of incredible,” said Dutchess Outreach Associate Director Tara Whalen. “Ryan and Lorenzo asked people that were coming to the show to bring food items and the response was incredible,” said Whalen as she and her volunteer helpers sorted the hundreds of pounds of food items that were dropped off.
David Laffin of the Shamrock Association arrived with a car full of food for Dutchess Outreach. “The members of the Shamrock Association are big supporters of Dutchess Outreach and Foodstock. We asked our members to bring food items to the club so we could deliver them to Foodstock and they went all-in,” said Laffin as he delivered the goods to Whalen and Michael before the start of the show. “The Shamrock takes great pride in helping the community – it’s what we do,” said Laffin.
Melanie Krahmer and her husband Richard Libutti are the duet better known as SIRSY, They are veteran performers of Foodstock and an annual crowd-pleaser of the event. Krahmer describes the annual event as a “love-fest. Rich and I live most of our life on the road, so our family extends to the folks that love and support while we’re on tour. Poughkeepsie always welcomes us with open arms. We’re proud to be a small part of a big event that gives back to so many local families.”
The headlining performance was performed by the Patrick James Band. Frontman Pat Gasperini said, “Foodstock is amazing. It shows how everyone comes together to help people in need and I feel this is the least I can do.”
C&S Pizza of Poughkeepsie was a major sponsor of the show and also was on-site selling their pizza inside the venue. Charlie McReynolds, the “C” of C&S, said he and his partner Steven Eckwall were donating half of their sales proceeds to the Foodstock fund, in addition to providing financial support of the show.
Duces restaurant, next to the Chance, extended their hours on Saturday night to accommodate an impromptu “after-party” for the musicians and volunteers that helped with the show. Owner Dan Pizzarelli hosted a few dozen people after the show he called “a benefit to help those that help others.” As the patrons enjoyed beverages and light fare, Pizzarelli talked with everyone. “Foodstock is a Poughkeepsie tradition that really helps Dutchess Outreach in their mission. I’m glad that Ryan and Lorenzo gave me the chance to help out,” said Pizzarelli.
Foodstock’s Lorenzo Angelino called the concert a success. “We started as a small benefit to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. It has grown over the last 12 years and this was likely the most successful of the series.” Ryan Michael added that “The food pantry at Dutchess Outreach helps fight food insecurity by providing food to those that need it. In Poughkeepsie alone, more than 26 percent of the population goes hungry because of a lack of food and the means to get it. Dutchess Outreach helps fill that void.”
