Lakeland, Fla. – “There are 1.02 billion undernourished people in the world today,” according to the World Food Programme (WFP) organization.
Today-together-we will be able to help some of these unfortunate persons from all over the world.
Tonight beginning at 7 p.m., Pizza Hut (PH), with Vigor! Services and Johnson Sound are hosting the first “Rock the Hut” benefit show, which will take place at the 6858 S. Florida Ave. Pizza Hut parking lot.
“In 2008, WFP reached just over 102 million beneficiaries in 78 countries,” and now, Lakelanders have the opportunity of helping them reach even more people in 2010.
Pizza Hut has supported the WFP for many years. But this year an employee hoped to inspire people from his community to help PH raise money for the international charitable organization.
Earlier this year, Clint Woolley, a Pizza Hut employee and owner of with Vigor! Services, brought the idea of creating a free music event to his manager to help PH raise more money for the WFP.
Woolley and PH management felt like having their community forming part of such a good cause would make a real difference for the WFP.
“There will be a $5 raffle to win a live Christmas tree for the holidays,” Woolley, who is also performing, said. “All proceeds of the raffle will go directly to benefit the World Food Program.
There will also be food specials where you can get pizza by the slice or pizza slice/drink combos for around $5.”
With the assistance from Steve Johnson, owner of Johnson Sound, a local recording and rehearsal studio, Woolley’s idea finally came to fruition. Johnson is providing the PA equipment for the artists playing in the highly anticipated show. He is also performing on the three-hour-long event.
THE BANDS
Plant City’s Eden Regained will open the show at 7 p.m. Eddie Wicker, drummer for Eden Regained, is a Pizza Hut employee and plays all over Central Florida with the band.
The members of Presque Vu, who are debuting in the Lakeland music scene in this show, will go on around 7: 45 p.m.
Woolley and yours truly, both members of 48 States Away (embedded music), will perform at 8:30 p.m.
And Johnson, lead guitarist and vocalist from Razor’s Edge, will close the show starting at 9:15 p.m.
In order to help Woolley, PH and the WFP, all of the bands are performing for free, which is why the show itself is free for everyone who may want to come.
In addition to the raffle, band members will accept donations during and after their sets, and all earnings will go directly to the WFP.
THE EXTRAS
In an online message, Woolley encouraged people coming to the show “to bring blankets and chairs” since the show will be outside and winter is in full swing.
To learn more about the World Food Programme and with Vigor! Services, please visit these sites: http://www.wfp.org, http://www.freerice.com and http://www.withvigorservices.com.
Bio: I am a byproduct of two rebelling children whom sought adulthood without understanding its actual meaning. I was raised in a 100 by 35 mile beautiful piece of land in the middle of the Caribbean by two of the greatest souls that have ever walked this planet. Now, I belong to the planet, I pray for balance, and my path is of awareness. After years of shifting parents, interests, countries, and journeys, I made the decision of buying my first home and settling in Lakeland, Florida. And here I am: A friend, father, husband, student, singer, writer, baker, decorator, event planner, promoter, advertiser, and trash picker; living my life in the middle of Florida always seeking answers and trying to make a difference one day at a time either with my music, my writing, or my friends. I have been told that I am one of those “rare breeds,” that I do not fit the mold of my generation, and I guess most people are right. I am not a liberal and I am not a conservative. Left and right is an illusion and all I seek is balance and rationality. I guess some call me an idealist--but I like it that way. In the upcoming weeks, months, and even perhaps years, I will be sharing my world and my life the way that I see it and the way I perceive it. I will share my writings, my songs, and my stories; but most importantly, I will be sharing the people that influence these creations; how these creations come about; and what all of this does for me and this town, county, region, state, country, and world. I invite you to come along and enjoy my world in the (863) and to recognize the people that are constantly working hard to make this town a more enjoyable place.
