Auburn Records, WJCU 88.7 FM and Iron Ingo Stührenberg hosted a food drive for the Cleveland Foodbank, Friends Of The Cleveland Kennel and Lake Humane Society on December 6th and 7th at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio. Fans attending the fifth annual Cleveland Metal Holiday Food Drive were encouraged to bring canned or non-perishable foods and cash donations to help those in need this holiday season. A donation was made from the Cleveland metal community to the Cleveland Foodbank, Friends Of The Cleveland Kennel and Lake Humane Society.

??This year’s donations totals were as follows: 2,273 lbs. of food collected (1,745 lbs. for the Cleveland Foodbank and 528 lbs. for the Friends Of The Cleveland Kennel and Lake Humane Society) and $4000.17 in cash donations ($1,592.00 for the Cleveland Foodbank, $1,222.00 for the Friends Of The Cleveland Kennel and $1,186.17 for the Lake Humane Society).??“Our cash donation totals skyrocketed this year!”, says event organizer Bill Peters (Auburn Records, WJCU). “We also had a significant increase of 29% in pet food donations too. The numbers are amazing, especially considering the bad winter weather we had to endure the weekend of our event. Fans still came out regardless to support and donate. ??“Although our weight totals for Foodbank donations were slightly down 16% from 2012, our cash donations more than offset the loss with a 61% increase. The Cleveland Foodbank listed cash on their website as their number one most needed item this holiday season. Fans answered their call with this tremendous outpouring of support. Every dollar donated provides enough food for four nutritious meals that will benefit children and families in need in our community. The money donated will also help take care of our neglected and abused animals. It feels good to be able to give something back to help those less fortunate in our community.”

??“Clearly, this whole community is behind what Bill is doing”, says Anne Goodman, president and CEO, Cleveland Foodbank. “It wouldn’t be the holidays without him. We are grateful and impressed. Honestly, it’s these traditions that make me love my job so much. ??“Bill’s support and enthusiasm over the years has meant so much to the Foodbank and the thousands of people we serve. We can’t thank him enough.”??“Anne guested live on my heavy metal radio show for the first time a week before the event “, adds Peters. “She wanted to personally thank my listeners for their support to our food drives. Heavy metal is not her music of expertise. She is actually a big Nanci Griffith fan! Her scheduled 10-minute interview turned out lasting a full hour! She was having so much fun enjoying our interview and the music she did not want to leave. My listeners really loved her a lot too. I think I’ve corrupted her with metal! Her life will never be the same again.” (laughs)

??This year’s festival expanded to two nights and featured performances by ALTERNATE REALITY, VULGAR DEVILS (first show), F**K YOU PAY ME, EMBALMER, SOULLESS, DARK ARENA, SCUM PARK HOOLIGANS, SLITT, BLACK DEATH RESURRECTED (first show), GROUND ZERO, GLOBAL WARNING and SHOK PARIS. Playboy model Daniella Dior and THE RED HOT HEATHENS outlaw burlesque group made special guest appearances. Admission to the concerts was free. All production and marketing costs were covered personally by Peters with some help from his sponsor The Exchange. The bands and Beachland Ballroom donated their time and venue, respectively.

?AFTERSHOK has released a new single, 'Metal Xmas', on Auburn Records, available for download via iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby and other digital outlets. All net proceeds from the single will be donated to the food drive charities. The band was invited but not able to perform at the benefit concert and wanted to contribute.??A raffle was held at the event for the first time this year. Prizes were donated by artist Derek Hess, concert photographers Janet Macoska, Anastasia Pantsios and Joe Kleon, Kitt’s Kollectables, Skateboard Marketing and BW&BK; metal journalist Mark Gromen. There was also a 50/50 raffle cash prize and a Sony PS4 grand prize donated by The Exchange. The Exchange also sold holiday gift cards for their retail stores and donated half of the sales, along with additional money, to the three charity organizations.?? "The staff and management of WJCU would like to extend our profound thanks to the Beachland Ballroom, The Exchange and all our sponsors, along with the dozens of artists, production staff, and volunteers who all donated their extraordinary talents, time, and effort to make the fifth annual Cleveland Metal Holiday Food Drive the most successful ever”, says WJCU General Manager Mark Krieger. “Even more remarkable is that there were so many great bands who stepped up that it took two full nights to stage it! Most of all, we'd like to congratulate Cleveland's metal community on their incredibly generous financial and material support of the Cleveland Food Bank, Cleveland City Kennels, and the Lake Humane Society at a time when needs are so great. We at WJCU are proud to have been part of this this event. You guys are amazing! "??Iron Ingo Stührenberg is a writer for Germany's Metal Rules. He has traveled to Cleveland from his home in Wiesmoor, Germany, at his own expense, to host two of the previous food drive benefit concerts. His first visit to Cleveland was in 2009.

Stührenberg was unable to attend this year's event due to work commitments but issued this statement: "All I can say is THANK YOU to everyone who was involved in organizing and realizing the two-day festival at the Beachland Ballroom and certainly to the heavy metal fans of Cleveland who came to the shows and donated to help. We had a lot of donations to help out people in need and also our friends on four paws. The heavy metal community made a difference again and it seems like the food drive festival becomes more and more a very important event for Cleveland. It makes me really proud and happy. I wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a great start into the new year! Prost!!!”

Footage from the event is streaming below: ?????