Town & Country presents the check to the South Portland Food Cupboard. Town & Country Federal Credit Union

The Don Campbell Band is doing a benefit concert to support the South Portland Food Cupboard on May 20 at Aura in Portland. Town & County Federal Credit Union representatives presented a $5,000 check to the cupboard in direct support and will put another $5,000 into radio advertising for the event.

“(The contribution) is a great first step in helping us to reach our ambitious goal of raising $75,000 through this year’s concert,” said Dwayne Hopkins, executive director of the South Portland Food Cupboard. “Town & Country’s commitment in supporting this event, both through a large cash contribution and additional in-kind support, comes at a time when we are seeing a dramatic increase in need for food from the community.

“We served 12,000 people this past year and are anticipating serving serve 20,000 people in the coming year, an increase of 8,000 people, which represents a surge in financial costs of more than $140,000. The backing of Town & Country will, hopefully, encourage others to support our efforts to provide food to those who need it. We are very appreciative of Town & Country’s leadership in offering such a significant contribution.”

The South Portland Food Cupboard and Town & Country have worked with each other for over 20 years. Both organizations began in the same facility in St. John’s Catholic Church in 1997. Town & Country is the longest-standing financial institution the cupboard has done business with.

“Supporting our local community is who we are and what we do because we live here, too, and understand the challenges that far too many families and others are facing when it comes to having enough to eat,” said Jon Paradise, senior vice president of communications, marketing and community outreach at Town & Country. “The work the South Portland Food Cupboard does to provide food to the South Portland community, as well as surrounding communities in Cumberland and York counties, including being a major partner of the Buxton Food Pantry, is truly remarkable.

“The opportunity to make a significant contribution to support its largest annual fundraiser aligns with our ‘local helping local’ philosophy. We are grateful to be part of this incredible organization and the food it provides to so many people.”

The Don Campbell Band has performed benefit concerts in the past. In December 2022, the band performed a free benefit concert that raised $11,521 for the Hospice of Southern Maine. Last August, the band did a concert that raised $52, 658 for the Maine Cancer Foundation.