Their music helps feed the hungry

SAKONNET AREA — Come rain or shine, over 50 musicians will take to the stage and sing out against hunger this weekend. Starting Friday night, Sept. 10, the Little Compton Community Center, Evelyn's Drive-In and Coastal Roasters will host the second-annual fundraising event to benefit foodbanks all over the East Bay.

Last year Singing Out Against Hunger raised over $5,000 by selling $2 raffle tickets, and by the end of the three-day event, Tiverton's foodbank was filled with 1,000-pounds of can goods. All proceeds were distributed through New Visions/East Bay Community Action Program and helped to feed 1,500 families in the wintertime.

The idea started with Jane and Domenic Bitto, who have owned Evelyn's Drive-In for 18 years.

"Yes, it was initially my idea to raise money for hunger, but as it got going, it became a community idea. Every business in Tiverton donated a raffle item. We had a huge raffle because everybody was majorly participating," said Mrs. Bitto.

Local artists also stepped forward, to give of their time.

"When I invited musicians to play for us, no one said no, and all the artists asked to come back this year," Mrs. Bitto said.

Among the artists are several local musicians; some of them are young, fledgling artists and others are well-known around town.

"A lot of teenagers who work at Evelyn's are into playing music. I'm always encouraging them to bring their guitars to staff parties because I love music. I'm crazy about it," said Mrs. Bitto. "I love to watch them 'self-express' up there — and for such a good cause."

When Mrs. Bitto heard the statistics about the millions of children who go hungry each year in the United States, she was "flabbergasted."

"I have three kids, and they never go hungry. No child I know goes hungry. It's flabbergasting that there are kids out there who go hungry in daily living. Sometimes you are so busy doing your own thing that you don't even look around. This concert series has made me pick my head up and notice," Mrs. Bitto said.

This year, a solid group of ten committee members buttressed the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Bitto. They have met weekly since February in order to make this year's Singing Out Against Hunger even better than last year. So far, the raffle promises to be even bigger, and raffle ticket sales exceed $3,000 as of press time. Should this year's event be a real success, the Bittos hope to expand into other neighboring communities.

BY CHELSEA WONACOTT-MERSHON

chelsea@eastbaynewspapers.com

Copyright © 2003, The East Bay Newspapers