Anti-Feeding Ordinance in Orlando is Defeated

The Anti-Feeding Ordinance in Orlando has finally been defeated! After years of struggle to share food with the homeless, Pastor Brian Nicholes, Orlando Food Not Bombs, and others have defeated the ordinance that made it illegal to feed groups of 25 or more in Orlando Parks. The passing of this ordinance has made it very difficult for many groups, charities, and churches to feed the homeless downtown. Some stopped their feeding programs all together, and some organizations even went out of business, such as the Ripple Effect. We are now free to serve those in need in any public park!!!

Over the past 18 months Rock for Hunger has been holding their Food Sharing on federal property in Downtown Orlando to avoid any trouble from local law enforcement or with the city. Finally with the victory over the Anti-Feeding Ordinance in Orlando, we can hope for many groups to come back to serve the needy in hopes to get us closer to the goal of ending homelessness in Central Florida! Check out the article in the Orlando Sentinel here.

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the Week in Rock for Hunger

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend, and got re-energized for a new week!!! Rock for Hunger Fest 3 tickets went on sale yesterday on Ticketmaster. Please be sure to support our mission, and come to an AMAZING show on November 15th. Help us SELL OUT in advance!!! Here is what we have going on in the week in Rock for Hunger:

MONDAY – Food Sharing
Week number 81 and we are still going strong with our weekly food sharing. Like every Monday, we meet at 6:45pm on the corner of Magnolia and Washington in Downtown Orlando. For more info send us an e-mail at info@rockforhunger.org.

TUESDAY – Register to Vote!!!
It is important to make sure that our voices are heard. Make sure you take advantage of your constitutional right to VOTE!!! Visit Rock the Vote to register. There are a few more days remaining until the registration deadline. It is very important to vote for leaders that our going to bring our economy back in order, and help us fulfill our mission to end homelessness and poverty!

WEDNESDAY – Rock for Hunger Fest 3 Committee
We are meeting at 6pm-7pm at the Qwest building in Downtown Orlando at 37 N. Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32801. E-mail us at concerts@rockforhunger.org. Be part of Rock for Hunger Fest 3, and help it become a major success!

SATURDAY – Board of Directors Meeting
Every first Saturday of each month our Board of Directors meet at 10am-11:30am, except for July and January. Want to help make a bigger difference within the organization? Come visit us at our Board of Directors meeting and get more involved. The door is always open for fresh ideas on how to improve our mission. For more info, e-mail me chris@rockforhunger.org.

I wish you all a great and successful week full of peace and smiles!

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Featured Artist of the Week: Mirrorpal

As exemplified in their self-descriptive genre-specific analysis on their MySpace page, Mirrorpal considers their music a candidate for the forgotten genre of "Other" first and foremost, followed by alternative and ambient. This collection of subtle misnomers could be more easily identified in the category of "Avant Garde," or quite simpler - "Art unlike anything you've ever heard of before." Now that's music that sounds attractive.

During their brief existence, Mirrorpal has enlightened Central Florida of the appeal of abnormality by dousing the Orlando music scene with a dash of originality and creativeness. Needless to say, their song "Effection" could be mistook for a Radiohead tune, which is a sign of their mass appeal to the artistic underground. Their style is so individually ambiguous that I have heard a fan describe them as "Incubus meets Circa Survive." Judge for yourself.

http://www.myspace.com/mirrorpal

Lucky for you, you will be able to catch Mirrorpal at this year's Rock for Hunger Festival on November 15th at the Plaza Theatre. I, for one, am very excited for their performance since I have only seen a few minutes of one of their shows a while back. They are bound to turn a lot of heads at the event.

- Logan Lenz; Treasurer/ Event Coordinator, Rock For Hunger
" I'm trying to create flesh architecture. I aim to get a sculptural feel for groups of bodies, as well as create performance art." ~~ Spencer Tunick

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$10 Tickets at The Employment Guide Job Fair

Get $10 off on you Rock for Hunger Fest 3 tickets featuring Kardinal Offishall tomorrow at the Employment Guide Job Fair at Florida Mall. This means your tickets to Rock for Hunger Fest 3 will only be $10!!! Here is how you get them:

Bring one of the following most needed items of the week:
100+ Bag of Foam Plates (Sealed Bag)
100+ Box or Bag of Plastic Forks (Sealed)
100+ Bag of Foam Cups (Sealed)

Bring any one of these three items, and get $10 off on your Rock for Hunger Fest 3 tickets with Kardinal Offishall, which will be on Saturday November 15th in Orlando, FL at The Plaza Theatre on 425 N. Bumby Ave. Orlando, FL 32803. WE WILL ONLY HAVE 20 TICKEST AVAILABLE AT $10!!! After the first 20 tickets, the tickets will be available at the pre-sale price for $15 until Saturday September 27th. Click here for more info on the Employment Guide Job Fair.

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the Week in Rock for Hunger

You can truly tell the fall is here. Rock for Hunger is getting very busy. Rock for Hunger Fest 3 is right around the corner. We are only eight weeks away from this year’s annual festival. With things getting more hectic, we are in greater need of volunteers, food, clothes, funds, and more. Please let us know if you have some extra time to give us a hand. You can e-mail me at chris@rockforhunger.org. Here is what we have going on this week in Rock for Hunger:

MONDAY – Food Sharing Preparation
This week Tanya will be cooking. Please feel free to e-mail me if you’d like to help out at chris@rockforhunger.org. Cooking usually takes place from 4:30pm-6:15pm.

MONDAY – Food Sharing
It’s week number 80 for our weekly food sharing. Last week was an amazing experience. It was like Sunshine in the Rain <-- Click the link to read a review from last weeks food sharing. We meet every week at 6:45pm at the corner of Magnolia and Washington in Downtown Orlando. The food sharing usually takes place from 6:45pm-8pm. For more info e-mail us at info@rockforhunger.org.

TUESDAY – Get you Rock for Hunger Fest 3 Tickets!
Tickets for Rock for Hunger Fest are now on sale at Ticketmaster and Eventbrite for only $15. The Ticketmaster pre-sale password = 4hunger. Ticket prices will go up to $20 starting this Saturday September 27th. Please help support and help us expand our mission! We can’t do it without you!!!

WEDNESDAY – RFH Fest 3 Committee Meeting
Join us for our weekly Rock for Hunger Fest committee meeting from 6pm-7pm. We meet at the Qwest Building on Orange Ave in Downtown Orlando at 37 N. Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32801. The Qwest Building is the same building that has Subway and Finhenry’s on the bottom floor.

SATURDAY – Mirror Pal at The Social
Come check out Rock for Hunger Fest 3 performing artist Mirror Pal at The Social at 54 N. Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32801. The show is 18&up with tickets being only $8.

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Featured Artist of the Week: Junkie Rush

This week Logan is taking a break from the Artist of the Week, so it is up to me to continue the segment of our Rock for Hunger Artist of the Week. I’d like to introduce you to long time Orlando legends Junkie Rush! A band that brings you a blend of Hard Rock, Reggae, Funk, and World Music, Junkie Rush is one of the most talented bands from Orlando, FL. They have played just about every stage in the past 10-years in Orlando along with bands such as The Supervillains, The Spitvalves, Unsung Zeroes, Milka, Gargamel!, VonRay, and many more great legends from the Orlando music scene.

Junkie Rush has been on a hiatus for a while and came back with a long awaited return to the Orlando scene just last year. They have performed in the entire Southeast, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and many other places. They are going to be rockin the stage at Rock for Hunger Fest 3 along with many other great bands such as Passafire, Jah Roots, Kardinal Offishall, Afterglow Radio, and many more. Last night they played an amazing show at the AKA Lounge with Whole Wheat Bread from Jacksonville, FL. Be sure to go check out this very talented, and amazing band from our local music scene. JUNKIE RUSH!!!!

Chris G.

"Be the Change you want to see in the World" - Ghandi

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KARDINAL OFFISHALL in Orlando, FL Nov 15th

Krdinal Offishall is coming to Orlando, FL on Saturday November 15th to perform at ROCK FOR HUNGER FEST 3!!! You may know Kardinal Offishall from the famous song “Dangerous” with Akon. “Dangerous” last week was the #3 song on the Billboard Radio Airplay pop charts. Kardinal Offishall will be in Orlando at The Plaza Theatre on Saturday November 15th for Rock for Hunger Fest 3. The Plaza Theatre is located on 425 N. Bumby Ave. Orlando, FL 32803. Tickets are available as follows:

$15 pre-sale from 9/15-9/26 at http://www.rockforhungerfest3.eventbrite.com/
$20 Regular on Sale Date 9/27 10am and available at
Ticketmaster
The Plaza Theatre (407)228-1220
Ten Thousand Villages (Winter Park – Park Ave)
Park Ave CDs (UCF & Winter Park)

$40 VIP Tickets
Includes Free Shirt, Private Bar, Private Balcony seating and more.
VIP Tickets are available at http://www.rockforhungerfest3.eventbrite.com/

For more info visit: http://www.rockforhungerfest.org/

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Sunshine in the Rain

Tonight’s food sharing was a magical night. It has been the first time since we started in March of 2007 that we had pouring rain at our food sharing time. Even though it was pouring outside, we had a ton of AMAZING volunteers come out. As we quickly carried the food and all supplies over to the post office from our meeting point, we were surprised by the number of people that have still shown up! Everyone ate a ton of food while we were all drenched from head to toe. It was really inspiring to see all of our volunteers work so hard to make sure every single person had enough to eat, and not worrying about how much it poured on them. The focus was to help serve those in need no matter what. That was truly magical! Everyone being served with a great hot meal cooked up by my momma was so appreciative that we still came out in this rain. It was the biggest smile I had seen on all their faces in quite some time. Everyone had so much joy on their face that it did not matter how much rain fell down on us, and how dark the sky was, the sun was still shining on all of us.

Thank you to all the amazing volunteers that dedicate the valuable time of their life to help serve those in need. Everyone involved could be doing so many other something else. It is great that to see that everyone leaves their selfishness behind for an hour each week, and dedicates their time to serve others. Tonight all the volunteers were truly doing what God is doing. That is being with those who are less fortunate, hungry, and homeless. Imagine this, even though we got all drenched from head to toe, at the end of the night we got to go home, shower up, and put on some fresh clothes. The ones we served tonight do not have that privilege. They did not have a nice home to go to, or fresh clothes to put on. Volunteers, thank you again for everything you do, and for being the difference we want to see in the world!

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the Week in Rock for Hunger

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! Tomorrow we are going to announce the ROCK FOR HUNGER FEST 3 HEADLINER!!! Check out the Rock for Hunger Fest blog to learn who is going to be headlining this year’s festival. Also, don’t forget to GET YOUR VIP Tickets. They are only $20 until midnight tonight, and will jump up to $40 after midnight. Here are some other events we have coming up this week in Rock for Hunger:

MONDAY – Cooking for the Homeless
Want to help cook for our weekly food sharing, and live in South Orlando? Come help cook at my house at 4:30pm. For directions and more info, e-mail me at chris@rockforhunger.org.

MONDAY – Food Sharing
Our 79th week in a row of our weekly food sharing is this Monday night. As always we meet at 6:45pm on the corner of Magnolia and Washington in Downtown Orlando, FL. If you’d like to bring something, we are always in need of rice and pasta. Canned goods are always needed too. However, most importantly is that you bring just yourself, and maybe bring a friend a long.

TUESDAY – Tutors & Meals
Our Tutors & Meals program now runs Monday through Friday from 2pm-5pm. E-mail Angela for more info about the program at angelagriner@gmail.org.

WEDNESDAY – Afterglow Radio & Luna Halo
Stop by the Plaza Theatre for a Rock for Hunger Fest 3 preview with Afterglow Radio! They will be sharing the stage with many great bands such as Luna Halo from Nashville, TN as well as Amaru and Run Run Run. The Plaza Theatre is located at 425 N. Bumby Ave. Orlando, FL 32803. Doors are at 7pm, and show begins at 8pm.

FRIDAY – K-G & the Band
Rock for Hunger Fest 2 and Rock for Hunger Fest 1 performing artist K-G & the Band will be at Taste for Lisa’s Birthday Party along with Rock for Hunger Spring Show performing artist The Fling. Doors are at 9pm and the show begins at 10pm. Come say Happy Birthday to Lisa, and thank her for all her great help and support with Rock for Hunger Fest 3, and Rock for Hunger!

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Poverty Branch at The Plaza Theatre tonight!

Poverty Branch is making their debut tonight at The Plaza Theatre! They are going to be performing to the beginning stages of the “Little Shop of Horrors” set. Joining them on stage will be fellow Orlando locals Buffalo Gun, So Help Me Rifle, and Lonely Heroes. Doors are at 8pm, and the show begins at 8:30pm. Cover is only $7, and the show is ALL AGES!!! Come out and enjoy a great night of sing-a-longs with Poverty Branch!

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Are you a VIP? Support Rock for Hunger Fest 3

Rock For Hunger Fest 3 is rolling out its early promotions and wants to get you in the action. For the next few days, we are offering special VIP tickets for only $20. Come Monday morning they will go up to their regular price of $40! Click here for Tickets.

This VIP pass entitles you to:
Balcany seats
Private Bar for quick consumption
Free food
Special event schwag
Free t-shirt and stickers

Act now! There are only 100 of these slots and boy they are going fast. We Twitteted about these 30 minutes ago and got 15 responses! I know they won't be here all week. If you want to be a part of Rock For Hunger Fest 3, why not go in style!
Remember that a $20 donation will feed 80 people here in Central Florida, so you not only get to see a wicked show, you get to help your community. Click here for Tickets.

Acts for Rock For Hunger Fest 3 include:
(super secret headliner - think "Dangerous')
The Audition
G-Ro and the Skateboard Sneakers
Passafire
Ambertone
Afterglow Radio
Union Made
Jah Roots
Chris Burns
Laura Reed and Deep Pocket
Mumpsy
Social Ghost
Junkie Rush
and more...

Follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/r4hfest and www.twitter.com/rockforhunger

THE AUDITION - "EDINBORO" Live

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Featured Artist of the Week: Poverty Branch

Back for a second time on this Featured Artist column, Poverty Branch has accomplished a great deal since our last update on them. Outside of being devoted advocates to the Rock for Hunger mission and getting involved in the community, their music has somehow gotten even better. Their style may be the same quirky folk rock as before, but it is definitely more polished and refined.

This Friday night, Poverty Branch will be at the Plaza Theatre in Orlando. All the while, the band has been in the studio recording their new album. I have very high hopes for the record, and expect the thing to be a masterful piece of art.

I hope to see everyone at the show on Friday night. If you can't make it out, Poverty Branch will be performing at Backbooth on Sunday night, September 14th as well.

- Logan Lenz; Treasurer/ Event Coordinator, Rock For Hunger
"Everything secret degenerates, even the administration of justice." ~~ Lord Acton

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Top 5 Ways of Making a Difference today

1.) Sign-up to Volunteer with a local organization this week, and commit to giving 1-3 hours of your time this week.
2.) Organize a food drive, clothing drive, or even a sock drive at your work.
3.) Spread awareness of local organizations! E-mail 5 friends about a local organization with a list of ways they can help. For example, volunteer, food drive, donations, clothing, awareness, etc.
4.) Local organizations always need funds to continue operating, and especially in though economic times. Organize a fundraiser for a local charity.
5.) Make a personal donation to a local nonprofit.

Making a difference is easy! You can do any one of the above top 5 ways of making a difference today. Every little bit helps! Even if its only 1 hour of your time a month, $1 donation a month, continued awareness to friends, or continued drives for an organization. You can make a difference! Act now! Your local community needs you!

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Tutors & Meals - Volunteer with Kids

The Rock for Hunger Tutors & Meals program is back! "The Tutors and Meals Program is currently partnered with the New Image Youth Center: http://www.newimageyouth.org/ at 212 South Parramore Ave, Orlando, Fl 32805.

The center is open from 2-6p.m. Monday through Friday. The center currently services 35 children from K-8th grades, by providing the following: homework help, tutoring for specific math and literacy skills, as well as recreational and relational activities. We need volunteers that are willing to help with homework, tutoring, and/or just playing and getting to know the kids. Please e-mail Angela Griner at angelagriner@gmail.com for more information. Also, take a look at the Utube video posted on their website: http://www.newimageyouth.org/. The video provides a great introduction to the kids and the center, and how it was started."

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the Week in Rock for Hunger

Welcome to another week in Rock for Hunger! I was supposed to have a brand new interview up tomorrow with Ballyhoo! for ya, but they no showed for their interview time. This might be due to their interview being scheduled very last minute. Perhaps they did not get the message. Oh well! We will bring some interviews back to you real soon.
Here is what is going on this week:

MONDAY – Food Sharing
Stop by our weekly food sharing from 6:45pm-8pm in Downtown Orlando. Our meeting point is the parking lot on the corner of Magnolia and Washington. Want to help cook? Send me a message. It is my turn to cook this week. My e-mail is: chris@rockforhunger.org.

TUESDAY – Organize a food drive at your company, school or church!

WEDNESDAY – Rock for Hunger Fest 3 Committee
Want to help plan the amazing Rock for Hunger Fest 3? Come to our committee meeting from 6pm-7pm. The meeting is at the QWest Building across from the Social and Tabu on Orange Ave in the new Endagon offices.

FRIDAY – Poverty Branch @ The Plaza Theatre
Rock for Hunger family members Poverty Branch will be tearing down the house at The Plaza Theatre this Friday. Don’t miss this amazing band. It’s an All Ages show, so bring the whole family!

SATURDAY & SUNDAY – Real Big Deal Festival
Rock for Hunger will have a booth at the Real Big Deal Festival in Gainesville, FL. Check out the Real Big Deal website for info on all the amazing bands playing at this event. Watch for a Blog this week about the event.

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Featured Artist of the Week: The Supervillains

Tonight at the Plaza Theatre in Orlando, Florida, you will be able to see one of the best and most reputable ska/raggae bands in all of Florida. They will be appearing with SOJA, the headlining raggae act that has yet to play in front of an Orlando crowd. The show should be a good one, and I expect any Central Florida music fan to be in attendance.

You can hear some of the Supervillains rhythmic tunes such as "Resin" and "Beaches" on their MySpace page.

Get the hookahs and the Jagermeister ready. Tonight's show is bound to rock hard.
See you all there!

- Logan Lenz; Treasurer/ Event Coordinator, Rock For Hunger
"A legend is an old man with a cane known for what he used to do." ~~ Miles Davis

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A week of Giving: Top 5 ways to Give this week

The following are the top five ways to give to Rock for Hunger this week, and make a difference in your local community.

1.) Organize a Rice & Pasta drive, or simple just bring some to our Monday night food sharing.
2.) We always need paper plates, plastic forks & spoons, bowls, and cups.
3.) Men’s Pants & Shirts: Collect all your old clothes you no longer wear, and give those to someone in need.
4.) Organize a canned food drive. Even though pasta and rice is one of our biggest needs, we can always use canned goods to make meals.
5.) Organize a fundraiser or come up with a creative idea for a fundraiser event.

Thank you for your continued support of Rock for Hunger, and for making a difference in your community! You can always e-mail us at info@rockforhunger.org.

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