Danville, IL, April 21, 2009 - Danville Foodstock announced an exciting new partnership to support the Danville Area Food Pantry. The Danville High School Library Club is working with the charity to mount an inter-class food drive, which will take place Monday, April 27 through Friday, May 1. Each class, freshmen through seniors, will compete to bring in the largest overall donation of food and money. Each student in the winning class will receive a certificate of participation, and a chance at other prizes.

Danville Foodstock is the local chapter of Foodstock Charities, a new organization founded in Danville last year by Lane Baldwin and his band Deeper Blues. Baldwin serves as Executive Director for both the national organization and its local chapter. The organization's mission is to serve the community by offering food - and hope - to those with the greatest need.

"We wanted to do something for the community," said Baldwin. "Working to support the Danville Area Food Pantry was the best way we found to reach out to those in our community who are suffering the most. We believe that there is nothing more important that helping people feed their families."

The project began with two benefit concerts produced last year, which raised almost ten thousand dollars in food and money. All proceeds went directly to the food pantry; no one involved received any payment for their work. "We were amazed at the support we received from the community," Baldwin said. "This year we want to expand our work as well as find ways to involve our local students."

At last month's District 118 school board meeting, Baldwin announced plans to work with students on several projects, and asked for assistance in making the proper contacts at local schools. "The board was very excited, and extremely helpful," said Baldwin. "We eventually came to the attention of Kurt Willer, faculty sponsor for the DHS Library Club. In less than an hour, we had a plan in place."

Willer and the Library Club will oversee collection of donations. "The timing was perfect," said Willer. "The Library Club was searching for a community project. Foodstock approached us at just the right time."

Each class - freshmen through seniors - will compete to bring in the largest overall donation of food and money. Willer's Library Club students will monitor the donations under his supervision. Results will be tabulated by the Danville Area Food Pantry. Each the student in the winning class will receive a certificate of participation. In addition, the Library Club will hold a raffle to select up to ten winning students, each of which will win a gift card from a local merchant.

"We all believe that giving our children ways to serve the community is an important part of our work," said Glenda Ford-Baldwin, Volunteer Coordinator for the charity. "Working with the Library Club, and the entire DHS student body, is an excellent beginning."

"We need to give our students opportunities to discover the deep personal fulfillment you get from helping others," Willer said. "We also need to give them ways to make a difference in the community. Working with Foodstock will give them both."

For more information on the DHS Inter-Class Food Drive and other Danville Foodstock activities, visit: danvillefoodstock.com.