In 2025, we made mutual aid a regular part of our programming at the 443, and our awesome little music-loving community has truly rallied around helping our neighbors in need.
FALL MEAL IN A BAG FOOD DRIVE
In early November as the SNAP program was under attack, we threw together a “Meal in a Bag” food drive in less than a week.
In just 6 days we collected:
121 “Meal in a Bag” complete meal kits with recipe cards
30 Birthday Cake kits (!!!)
6 boxes of miscellaneous food donations
We delivered all the donations to our friends at the NORTHEAST COMMUNITY CENTER, located right down the street from the club. The hardworking team at the Center told us their clients LOVED the bags that included everything for a complete meal.
WINTER WARMER COAT DRIVE
In December, we held our Winter Warmer Coat Drive at the Cool Club & the Lipker Sisters show to benefit the children of Dr. Week’s Elementary School.
Dr. Week’s school is on the frontlines of the worst child poverty in the country, you can read more about that HERE.
PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCT DRIVE
We held a personal hygiene product drive on February 1 at our sold-out “JESS FEST” – stories and songs by three of Syracuse’s most dynamic female performers – Jessica Brown, Jess Novak, and Jessie Elizabeth.
We collected 24 grocery shopping bags jam-packed with hair care, period products, oral care, shaving supplies, moisturizer, wipes, first-aid supplies, soap, body wash, and nail care products. The donations will benefit our friends at the NORTHEAST COMMUNITY CENTER.
SPRING MEAL IN A BAG FOOD DRIVE
At every HOUSE OF HAMILL show, the band collects non-perishable food items for local food banks and pantries, so we decided to join forces and hold another one of our “Meal in a Bag” food drives to benefit the SYRACUSE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY CENTER.
The week of the House of Hamill show, we collected:
49 “Meal in a Bag” complete meal kits with recipe cards
15 Birthday Cake kits
Thank you to everyone who has donated to help the cause!!
