Gloomy weather wasn’t enough to halt bright sounds and an attitude of giving last week in Downtown Appleton.
Audrey Hendrickson, organizer of Downtown Appleton’s Street Music Week, doesn’t look at what more could have been raised for charity had Mother Nature better cooperated. Rather, she’s uplifted by those who came out to participate in spite of conditions that were less than ideal.
“The musicians were so generous; coming and playing even with the cold and rain,” Hendrickson said. “The people coming out to listen were generous. It was just awesome to see.”
Last week’s Street Music Week, presented by Heid Music, raised nearly $5,000 for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.
Music lovers — both players and listeners — have combined to raise more than $20,000 to fight hunger through the event’s seven-year history.
Musicians claimed spots along College Avenue, set out donation buckets and provided some lunch hour entertainment.
For listeners, it was a full-on, downtown music buffet.
And though the week raised only about half of its lofty $10,000 goal, organizers can’t help but feel it was a success.
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin operates food banks in Appleton and Milwaukee, which supply pantries and other programs across the eastern side of the state. The organization is able to provide food at low cost thanks to its partnerships with retailers, growers and manufacturers. The organization provides food to 400,000 people per year.
The music spread a positive feeling feeling downtown, Hendrickson said.
And those in need will receive nearly 15,000 meals as a result.
