This Saturday, a Milwaukee dad and a hometown cover band will turn a VFW hall into a full-on donation drive for a neighborhood nonprofit that redistributes surplus food. Billed as the group's first major fundraiser, the event is aimed at raising money for a mobile pantry to keep weekly distributions rolling as demand keeps climbing. Organizers say the night will blend live music, raffle prizes and a 50/50 drawing to help cover operating costs.
Fundraiser Details
The benefit opens at 5 p.m. at the New Berlin VFW (17980 W. Beloit Rd.), according to VFW Post 5716. Milwaukee cover band Part Time Models is scheduled to take the stage from 7 to 10 p.m., per Part Time Models.
Organizers and the Band's Role
Live Laugh Loaves was launched by MiquelaRae and her father, Mike Artz, and Mike says the family often steps in when outside funding does not quite cover the gap. "My daughter bought a trailer strictly out of her savings account, which was almost $8,000," he told TMJ4, which also reports the group distributes more than 20,000 food items every week. The outlet notes admission for the fundraiser is $10 and that the night will feature raffle prizes and a 50/50 drawing; band member Brian McCarty told the same station the group's "probably the most eclectic set list" is meant to get people dancing.
How Live Laugh Loaves Operates
Live Laugh Loaves runs free weekly food distributions out of bins and carts on Milwaukee's south side and frequently teams up with other local programs, serving roughly 200 to 500 people each week and supplying about 30 pantries a month, according to Shepherd Express. The effort is volunteer driven and lean on overhead; Shepherd Express also notes a distribution hotline for weekly stock at 414-395-5936.
How to Help
Tickets are $10 at the door. If you cannot make it to the fundraiser, Live Laugh Loaves accepts monetary and in-kind donations as well as volunteer sign-ups via its website or by phone; see Live Laugh Loaves or call 414-356-9883 for details.
