Hundreds of community members gathered at the historic Whiteside Theatre in downtown Corvallis Friday night. Taking a stand against hunger, all $6,000 collected was donated to Linn Benton Food Share, providing an estimated 82,000 pounds of food.
Twenty-one years ago faculty of OSU started "A Reading to Fight Hunger," and each year it continues to grow. This year, nine accomplished writers took the stage and sampled their works. The OSU Center for Humanities continued their support by paying for the use of space.
As supporters flooded the theatre, The Sideways Portal Sandbox jammed on stage filling the room with smooth jazz. The half dozen musicians with brass, percussion, guitars, and lots of talent created ambiance with a slow, seductive pulse.
Gregg Kleiner, event organizer, welcomed attendees settling into the low-lit theatre.
"This is really cool! Wow twenty-one years, it's because of you coming out to help the hungry among us."
Selections were nonfiction, fiction, essays, and poetry.
"It's a nice way for people to get a sample of different kinds of writing," said Alison Clement, LBCC English instructor and steering committee member for the event.
Local bookstore Grass Roots was a sponsor of the event. Owner Jack Woolcott displayed books from the night's artists. Each was available for an autograph when purchased.
"We're contributing 100 percent of proceeds to the event. It's a labor of love," said Wolcott.
"We've already had someone pay more than the book costs to donate," added Claire Meints, Grass Roots event coordinator.
All readers that took the stage live in Oregon. Most were local, the furthest came from Ashland. Each had a unique style and got seven minutes to share their words. Poet laureates Peter Sears and Lawson Inada were two of them.
John Daniel, master of ceremonies, has six published nonfiction books and three Oregon Book Awards. He engaged the audience with humor and hope.
"We're here tonight because no child in Linn County or Benton County or any county should have to eat paste."
The event coincided with National Food Day, Oct. 24, and prepared food was donated for listeners. The "magic barrel," a shrunken wooden vessel like that which stores wine, sat prominently in the reception area. Donations were added in exchange for a bite to eat.
Greg Little, owner of Squirrel's Tavern, worked a booth for thirsty patrons. He donated beer for purchase, giving all sales to Linn Benton Food Share. Wine was donated by First Alternative Natural Foods and hard cider was donated by local cider house 2 Towns.
With the many businesses and community members that came together to share food and drink, many more will be thankful for their generosity as the holidays approach and their stomachs are empty.
The vibe of the night was warm and soft, loving and embracing.
Readers took the stage behind a large podium adorned with oversized pumpkins and live, leafy plants. The lamp shades on nearby tables gave the comfort of a living room. The prominent red brick wall behind them showed its 90 years of use, adding to the theater's rustic Italian architecture.
Artists were as diverse as the crowd.
The youngest to stand behind the podium were in their 30s, while others in their 70s. Onlookers were a blend of students, hipsters and professors, white-haired with walkers, couples snuggled on dates, and notably, even a lady dressed in traditional velvet renaissance attire.
Nick Dybek read his compelling fiction of a fisherman on a crabbing boat in Alaska. Tangled in a crab pot as it's thrown overboard, the imagery he presented of the fisherman was masterful. His description of freezing veins, loss of breath, fear of the abyss, flashes of the afterlife, and his eventual rescue left listeners with dropped jaws.
Barbara Drake shared her nonfiction story about the varied finds one makes in the rural countryside. Quite the wordsmith, she compared scat to, "apple pie filling, but definitely not sauce." Her creative and humorous narration sent the crowd into bursts of laughter.
Fiction author Jon Raymond read a semi foul-mouthed, sort of cynical, but absolutely hilarious tale of a middle aged lady underwhelmed in her life-sucking office cubicle. His book was just sold last week, and he expressed his excitement reading it for the first time in his community.
"This marriage of giving and literature is such a wonderful thing. I'm not a church-goer but it feels spiritual."
The evening was loaded with laughter, applause, punchlines, and puns intended. All in the name of helping those less fortunate.
Twenty-one years ago faculty of OSU started "A Reading to Fight Hunger," and each year it continues to grow. This year, nine accomplished writers took the stage and sampled their works. The OSU Center for Humanities continued their support by paying for the use of space.
As supporters flooded the theatre, The Sideways Portal Sandbox jammed on stage filling the room with smooth jazz. The half dozen musicians with brass, percussion, guitars, and lots of talent created ambiance with a slow, seductive pulse.
Gregg Kleiner, event organizer, welcomed attendees settling into the low-lit theatre.
"This is really cool! Wow twenty-one years, it's because of you coming out to help the hungry among us."
Selections were nonfiction, fiction, essays, and poetry.
"It's a nice way for people to get a sample of different kinds of writing," said Alison Clement, LBCC English instructor and steering committee member for the event.
Local bookstore Grass Roots was a sponsor of the event. Owner Jack Woolcott displayed books from the night's artists. Each was available for an autograph when purchased.
"We're contributing 100 percent of proceeds to the event. It's a labor of love," said Wolcott.
"We've already had someone pay more than the book costs to donate," added Claire Meints, Grass Roots event coordinator.
All readers that took the stage live in Oregon. Most were local, the furthest came from Ashland. Each had a unique style and got seven minutes to share their words. Poet laureates Peter Sears and Lawson Inada were two of them.
John Daniel, master of ceremonies, has six published nonfiction books and three Oregon Book Awards. He engaged the audience with humor and hope.
"We're here tonight because no child in Linn County or Benton County or any county should have to eat paste."
The event coincided with National Food Day, Oct. 24, and prepared food was donated for listeners. The "magic barrel," a shrunken wooden vessel like that which stores wine, sat prominently in the reception area. Donations were added in exchange for a bite to eat.
Greg Little, owner of Squirrel's Tavern, worked a booth for thirsty patrons. He donated beer for purchase, giving all sales to Linn Benton Food Share. Wine was donated by First Alternative Natural Foods and hard cider was donated by local cider house 2 Towns.
With the many businesses and community members that came together to share food and drink, many more will be thankful for their generosity as the holidays approach and their stomachs are empty.
The vibe of the night was warm and soft, loving and embracing.
Readers took the stage behind a large podium adorned with oversized pumpkins and live, leafy plants. The lamp shades on nearby tables gave the comfort of a living room. The prominent red brick wall behind them showed its 90 years of use, adding to the theater's rustic Italian architecture.
Artists were as diverse as the crowd.
The youngest to stand behind the podium were in their 30s, while others in their 70s. Onlookers were a blend of students, hipsters and professors, white-haired with walkers, couples snuggled on dates, and notably, even a lady dressed in traditional velvet renaissance attire.
Nick Dybek read his compelling fiction of a fisherman on a crabbing boat in Alaska. Tangled in a crab pot as it's thrown overboard, the imagery he presented of the fisherman was masterful. His description of freezing veins, loss of breath, fear of the abyss, flashes of the afterlife, and his eventual rescue left listeners with dropped jaws.
Barbara Drake shared her nonfiction story about the varied finds one makes in the rural countryside. Quite the wordsmith, she compared scat to, "apple pie filling, but definitely not sauce." Her creative and humorous narration sent the crowd into bursts of laughter.
Fiction author Jon Raymond read a semi foul-mouthed, sort of cynical, but absolutely hilarious tale of a middle aged lady underwhelmed in her life-sucking office cubicle. His book was just sold last week, and he expressed his excitement reading it for the first time in his community.
"This marriage of giving and literature is such a wonderful thing. I'm not a church-goer but it feels spiritual."
The evening was loaded with laughter, applause, punchlines, and puns intended. All in the name of helping those less fortunate.
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