Local woman organizes fundraiser for food bank
The Opskamatrists, a local band, has been rehearsing this week for a benefit concert for the food bank Saturday evening. They’re just one of several local bands and performers the public can see at the Idaho Falls greenbelt that evening.
“The music we play is called ska,” band member Chad Christensen said. “We have a little bit of reggae mixed in as well, so you can think of Bob Marley – stuff like that.”
The event wasn’t put together by some experienced event organizer, rather a local woman who wanted to make a difference.
“It all started when I went to a women’s conference last year and they were talking about kids not having anything to eat for the weekend, and it really kind of bothered me and I thought, what difference can one person make?” Maraia Roberts-Belford said.
She contacted some local recording producers who directed her to some bands who agreed to perform for free.
“This is a great cause,” band member Bruce Christensen said. “We sometimes take for granted the things in our lives we need, and sometimes there’s people who don’t have those things, so to be able to do something for people who don’t have the things in their lives they need is a great opportunity.”
Sylvia Belford, Jake Chamberlain and a surprise local celebrity singer will also perform.
The benefit concert is for the food bank is Saturday evening from 7pm to 9pm at the Idaho Falls greenbelt shelter near the roundabout. Admission is two cans of food.
