Students rocked out to the tunes of local bands Friday night at Rock For Hunger, a benefit concert put on by Volunteer UCF and The ONE Campaign to help fight poverty.
Local bands included Milka, K-G and the Band, Stumpp, Vision Quest, Vocal Drop, Cori Yarckin and Oldstate. The concert was held at 7 p.m. in the Student Union's Pegasus Ballroom.
Chris Goyzueta, the director of Hunger and Homelessness for VUCF, wanted Rock For Hunger to resemble Live 8 concerts, which are huge shows that feature well-known bands and whose mission is to make poverty history.
Goyzueta said this was an exciting time for VUCF because it was the first-ever Rock For Hunger benefit concert. VUCF is in the middle of hosting a series of events that began on Wednesday and will continue until Tuesday.
On Monday, students can join the carpool at Millican Hall at 6 p.m. to feed the homeless at Lake Eola. Students can also donate sweaters, jackets, blankets and sweat pants to the VUCF cubicle in Student Union Room 208.
"I really believe that if you can get people to believe in what you believe in, you can get them motivated to help make a difference in the world for the better," Goyzueta said.
VUCF teamed up with Real Rock 101.1, 2nd Harvest Food Bank, the U.S. Army, Fair Trade for a Greater Orlando Coalition and many others.
Last year Goyzueta attended the Hunger Banquet that VUCF sponsored and he became motivated to help those that are less fortunate. Rock For Hunger was his first time managing a large event and it made him feel as though he had finally found his "true passion."
"Rock For Hunger is all about people coming together in peace, enjoying great music and making a difference. Even if it's a little difference, it matters to those it affects," Goyzueta said.
The students who attended the concert said they enjoyed the event not only because of the music, but also because they cared about the cause.
"I heard about the event through VUCF and I wanted to come out and help by donating, and because it's a very meaningful event," said Christaly Albarracin, a VUCF member.
Diego Quiroz, a member of the band Vision Quest, said he's been involved in charity programs before.
"I got involved with some charity programs in Brazil, so I had seen poverty and the damage it causes in families and people … this generation can do something different and can make poverty disappear."
The goal of the concert was to raise $6,000 to donate to 2nd Harvest Food Bank and Care International. At the end of the night they raised a little over $1,000, but Goyzueta still considers the event a success.
"Everyone that experienced it had an experience that they won't forget," he said. This is just the beginning. There will be much more to come."
Students can be sure to see another Rock For Hunger benefit concert next year, Goyzueta added.
"I plan on doing smaller events in downtown throughout the spring to start raising money for Rock For Hunger 2 … Soon people will catch on and support Rock For Hunger because it's entertaining, has a great message, and it's there to make a difference locally and globally," he said.
For more information on Rock For Hunger or VUCF events, visit www.vucf.getinvolveducf.com.
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