A truckload of food is on its way to the Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry, thanks to the students and faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Last Thursday, the school announced that its Music for Food Benefit Concert had raised $17,000 for the East Side food bank.
“We are so grateful to the students and faculty of Cleveland Institute of Music,” said Devorah Alevsky, director of the Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry, an agency of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and a member of the Hunger Network. “They almost literally turned music into food and a lot of it. As a result of their care and artistic generosity, we will be able to assist even more of our struggling neighbors who are fighting food insecurity during this difficult time.”
Cleveland’s Music for Food concert, one of approximately 20 similar events nationwide this month, took place on Feb. 23 at Mixon Hall. It featured performances by students and faculty, including several members of the Cleveland Orchestra.
Cleveland Institute of Music has participated in the musician-led Music for Food movement every year since 2018, but this was the largest amount it has raised. To date, the national organization has engaged some 350 classical artists and raised enough funds for well over 1.5 million meals.
“I am so proud of and extremely grateful for our partnerships with the Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry and Music for Food,” said Karen Ferry, president of the Student Government at Cleveland Institute of Music. “It is truly empowering to use our music to make a greater impact on the community.”
Although the Music for Food concert took place Wednesday, donations are still being accepted online. Additionally, bidding is open on the virtual silent auction until 11 p.m. Sunday, March 20. The auction features artwork from students at the Cleveland Institute of Art, as well as items from the Cleveland Museum of Art, Western Reserve Historical Society, and local shops and restaurants. The concert itself will be available for viewing on the Music for Food YouTube Channel, beginning at 7:30 p.m. March 13, and on the Violin Channel, at 4 p.m. March 20.
