As the kids, packed shoulder to shoulder in the dining room of Windham’s Stone Dog Cafe, jumped and wiggled to the sounds of Rick Charette, they likely had little idea how much good had been done that day in that same space.

The free concert by the popular children’s singer was an exciting end to a charitable day Tuesday at the Stone Dog Cafe, where owner Jeff Graham gave away free breakfast and lunch in exchange for donated goods marked for the Windham Food Pantry.

“We got tons and tons of donations,” said Graham, wiping away the sweat earned from a 12-hour day that saw around 300 people served. “We did about $1,400 in cash donations, and tons and tons of clothing and food. Every cent and every stitch of clothing is going to the food pantry.”

Throughout the morning and afternoon, volunteers helped the Stone Dog staff serve food, bus tables and collect donations, while Hoggy’s Market provided the meat for the day’s free meals. All the goodwill, Graham said, provided welcome relief to constant bad news related to the economy, the main goal of the event.

“I just got sick of reading the paper and seeing all the doomsday. It just felt good to do it. It’s been a dreary winter,” he said.

The news is certainly good for the Windham Food Pantry, where donations of food and clothing are generally low from now until holiday food drives start around September, Director Madeline Roberts said.

“I think this is just a magnificent thing. This will get us through the tough months,” she said.

The success of the fundraiser was a big surprise, said Graham, who was met at the Stone Dog by television crews at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday.

“I just thought it was going to be advertised on my marquee outside, and we’d get 50-75 people,” said Graham, who ended up serving four times that many. “I think people are just hurting for something positive.”

Kids enjoyed a free concert by Rick Charette Tuesday at Stone Dog Cafe in Windham as part of a fundraiser for the Windham Food Pantry. The event raised around $1,400 in cash donations as well as food and clothing for kids.