Discofunkgrass, Home for the Holidays, and the Spirit of Giving Back to the Community

By Howie Roemer | December 2, 2013

As a member of local Taos jam-band Last to Know, I am humbled and honored to be part of an annual tradition that has been providing holiday cheer to Northern New Mexico families for almost 30 years. Later this week, as we’ve done each of the last five years, Last to Know will perform a benefit concert to raise awareness for Taos Feeds Taos and to collect some of the food that will be distributed to over 1000 deserving Taos families just in time for Christmas.

Over the years, I’ve always been so impressed with the tremendous support Taos Feeds Taos receives from area businesses, schools, local governments and even the National Guard. 20131207copyPerhaps most impressive is the number of volunteers who really make it all possible. Each December, the National Guard Armory transforms into a makeshift Santa’s Workshop with volunteers like elves working days on end hauling boxes, sorting donated food, and preparing for delivery to the far corners of Taos County.

It’s this community spirit and goodwill that inspired me to connect the band with the organization. Our first food drive took place at the Kachina Lodge. Those of you who were there will remember that the venue was small and the turnout big. The number of donated items far-exceeded our expectations and that night we knew not only that we would do it again, but that we’d need a bigger place to do it. After our second annual event at the only-slightly-larger Old Blinking Light spilled out onto the snow-covered patio, we set our sights on the friendly and spacious confines of the KTAOS Solar Center.

The tradition continues at KTAOS with this year’s benefit concert on Saturday, December 7th. And we’re happy to announce that this time around we’ll be joined by members of the Revolving Door Circus – hula-hooping, stilt-walking and more! Showtime is 8:00 pm. All ages are welcome and admission to the show is free with five cans (or five pounds) of food. A list of suggested items is available at taosfeedstaos.org and at lasttoknowmusic.com. Donated food will supplement the food already provided by area supermarkets and purveyors. Admission without food is $7, a portion of which will be donated back to Taos Feeds Taos.

On behalf of Last to Know and our extended family, Happy Holidays to you and yours. And thank you for allowing us to give back to the community that has given so much to the folks like me who call it home.

 

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