Goo Goo Dolls Singer To Play Charity Holiday Concert In Westfield
WESTFIELD, NJ — The Town of Westfield has invited residents to kick off the holiday season by keeping hunger and food insecurity top of mind through the “Be the Light” initiative. The town announced Tuesday that this coming Sunday, the community can participate in a series of events that will highlight the cause in partnership with Westfield resident and Goo Goo Dolls lead vocalist John Rzeznik.
Rzeznik also had played a porch concert back in March to raise money for a local charity.
The Sunday events are meant to remind members of the community that they can help “Be the Light” for neighbors in need.
According to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Union County’s number of food insecure residents has increased by 58 percent due to the pandemic. Feeding America projects a 56 percent increase in food insecurity throughout New Jersey as a result of COVID-19, representing an additional 431,060 residents. This rate is higher than the national average of 46 percent and greater than any of New Jersey's neighboring states.
Luminaries: Nov. 29 at Dusk
At dusk, all residents who purchased “Be the Light” luminaries — organized by the Westfield United Fund, the Presbyterian Church of Westfield, and The Westfield Rotary Club — will light their candles in a show of unity throughout Town to support local hunger programs.
Livestream Performance: Nov. 29 at 6 p.m.
At 6 p.m., The Town of Westfield’s Facebook page will host a special livestream concert with John Rzeznik, as he performs songs from the band’s new holiday album, It’s Christmas All Over.
Online Auction: Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. through Dec. 18 at 11:59 p.m.
In addition, Rzeznik has partnered with the Town of Westfield and the Westfield United Fund to raise funds for the Westfield Food Pantry and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey to combat hunger for those in Union County facing economic difficulty and food insecurity this holiday season.
At 7 p.m., an online auction will open at http://cfbnj.org/westfieldhungerdrive, where bids can be placed through Dec. 18 on the following items generously donated by Rzeznik:
A personal backyard performance (outdoors, maximum of 30 guests, with social distancing and all related COVID protocols in place, within Union County or 30 minutes of Westfield)
Rzeznik’s Taylor guitar used during the November 29 performance
50 autographed copies of It’s Christmas All Over
In addition to auction bids, donations will also be accepted. Donations of $25 and above will be entered to win the grand raffle prize, an authentic autographed limited edition Goo Goo Dolls Crosley turntable.
“This holiday season is going to be difficult for many families here in New Jersey, and I’m glad to be able to help raise awareness about hunger in the region,” said Rzeznik. “My hope is that we can make a real difference as a community by getting involved with this cause to provide help where it’s most needed.”
“This year, more than ever, it’s very fitting that we start the holiday season with a meaningful approach to help make an impact on hunger and food insecurity right here in our area,” said Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle. “Our community has come together to be the light for one another in many ways during this difficult year, starting with the We Love Local campaign, in which John Rzeznik played a huge role to support our local businesses. He then followed up with the desire and initiative to tackle hunger in a way that brings the community together, and we are so grateful for his generosity and willingness to use his platform to help those in need. This effort on his part captures the true meaning of the holidays.”
“Be the Light” will also extend to Downtown Westfield, where the North Avenue tree will be lit on Sunday, followed by the Menorah Lighting on Dec. 10. Due to COVID restrictions on outdoor gatherings, the community is asked to enjoy these events virtually this year on the Town’s Facebook page.
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This article originally appeared on the Westfield Patch
