Philly Band Mt. Joy Brings Food Drive and Homecoming Show to The Mann Center

The Philadelphia-based indie rock band Mt. Joy is set to perform a homecoming show at The Mann Center on Friday, and the event will also serve as a food drive benefiting local families in need. The band's latest live album, "Live at the Salt Shed," was released in June, and they have been playing to packed houses across the country. The show will be a special homecoming for lead guitarist Sam Cooper, who grew up attending concerts at The Mann Center.

Giving Back to the Community Through Music and Philanthropy

A Homecoming Show with a Charitable Twist

The upcoming Mt. Joy show at The Mann Center is more than just a concert; it's an opportunity for the band to give back to the local community. In partnership with the nonprofit organization Sharing Excess, the event will serve as a food drive, with fans encouraged to bring non-perishable items like canned goods and dry goods. These donations will then be distributed to families in need, helping to combat food insecurity in the Philadelphia area.During Mt. Joy's two-night run at The Mann Center last year, fans donated an impressive 3,000 pounds of food, which translated to 2,500 meals for those in need. This year, the band hopes to build on that success and continue making a positive impact on the community.

Incentivizing Donations with Unique Experiences

To encourage fan participation in the food drive, the organizers have come up with a unique incentive. Anyone who brings a donation will be entered into a drawing to win the chance to watch the show from the side stage. This exclusive opportunity is a rare treat for fans, as Cooper explains, "To see a show from side stage is very unique. Not many people get to see that, but for people, they love it, it's a good experience for sure."The partnership between Mt. Joy and Sharing Excess has been a fruitful one, with the band's fans contributing enough food to generate 10,000 meals for the nonprofit so far on this tour. Sharing Excess' nonprofit operations director, Victoria Wilson, is thrilled with the collaboration, saying, "There have been so many people that have reached out to get involved and we have this really easy way of letting them do that."

A Perfect Fit: Mt. Joy's Music and Sharing Excess' Mission

The connection between Mt. Joy and Sharing Excess goes beyond just the food drive; it's a natural fit that aligns with the band's values and the nonprofit's mission. Sharing Excess founder and CEO, Evan Ehlers, expressed his admiration for the band, saying, "We also personally love listening to Mt. Joy on a regular basis. You'll see at our distributions and our pop-ups we're playing a lot of music and, a lot of the time, it is Mt. Joy. It's just a perfect fit."This synergy between the band's music and Sharing Excess' efforts to combat food insecurity is a testament to the power of using one's platform to make a positive difference. By leveraging their popularity and fan base, Mt. Joy is able to amplify the reach and impact of Sharing Excess, creating a meaningful and impactful partnership.

A Homecoming Show with a Bright Future

The upcoming show at The Mann Center holds special significance for Mt. Joy, as it marks a homecoming for the band. Lead guitarist Sam Cooper, who grew up attending concerts at the venue, expressed his excitement, saying, "For us to be able to play that stage, it is literally like a sixth, seventh grade dream come true."The band's rise to prominence has been a remarkable journey, and they show no signs of slowing down. In addition to the homecoming show, Mt. Joy is also set to headline Madison Square Garden on September 28th, further solidifying their status as a must-see live act.But the band isn't resting on their laurels; they're already hard at work on their fourth studio album, which they plan to finish up after their current tour. With a new album in the works and a growing fanbase, the future looks bright for Mt. Joy, both as a musical act and as a force for positive change in their local community.