Wes Hoffman & Friends. Courtesy of the artist.
The Thanksgiving season is all about bringing people together and sharing what we have, and Punks Giving: A Benefit For Operation Food Search is hoping to use this seasonal good cheer to bring the St. Louis punk community together for a good cause on November 23 at Off Broadway.
Wes Hoffman, Punks Giving organizer and founder of 314 Punk, describes the event as being half punk show and half fundraiser. “What I wanted was to take that fun punk show energy and really create a way to give back while having fun at the same time,” Hoffman says.
Hoffman, who founded the 314 Punk brand to better promote St. Louis' punk scene, was initially inspired to do something around Thanksgiving while looking book a hometown show for his band, Wes Hoffman & Friends. He was struck by the potential of a "Punks Giving," an opportunity for the local punk community to get together and do some good at the same time.
Courtesy of Wes Hoffman
The lineup for Punks Giving, sponsored by 314 Punk and 4 Hands Brewing Company, features of four St. Louis punk bands: Number One Sons, The Chandelier Swing, Modern Angst, and Wes Hoffman & Friends. There will be bins set up to collect food donations for Operation Food Search, a St. Louis-based nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger in the metropolitan area, at the door. Recommended donations include canned fruits and vegetables, soup, dried spices, pasta, and boxed meal kits, as well as deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. There will also be a charity raffle with prizes from Bypolar Records, the proceeds of which will also be going to benefit Operation Food Search.
In addition to the good it does giving back to the community, Punks Giving is a chance to celebrate with a thriving community that Hoffman has only seen grow since he first started 314 Punk.
“What we're trying to do is bring the punk scene in St. Louis to the forefront,” Hoffman says “We want it to be a place where everyone feels welcome and that the shows are easily accessible.”
As he continues to do his part to support and grow the local punk community, Hoffman also sees potential to keep doing shows like Punks Giving in the future. “If this one goes well, I would love to make Punks Giving an annual thing,” Hoffman says.
Punks Giving: A Benefit for Operation Food Search is November 23 at Off Broadway. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets are available for $15 in advance at TicketWeb.com, or at the door for $18. All ages welcome, $3 surcharge for minors.
