Our Mission
We believe both music and food are essential to human life and growth.
Music has the power to call forth the best in us,
inspiring awareness and action when artists and audiences work together
to transform ineffable musical experiences into tangible and needed food resources.
Our Model
Music for Food is driven by the spirit of volunteerism, and it could not exist without the support of its musicians and its audience.
Musicians give performances and choose a local pantry to support.
Audience members donate — as their budget allows — to benefit the designated pantry, which receives 100% of the contributions.
The pantry then creates meals for those in need.
Donations through Music for Food demonstrate a commitment
to music as a tool for social change and stronger communities.
Our Story
In 2010, inspired by Carol Rodland’s Rochester-based “If Music be the Food…” food drive concerts, violist Kim Kashkashian launched Music for Food, a concert series to help relieve food insecurity in the Greater Boston area, with a group of Boston-based musicians and guest artists.
"The concept of Music for Food came into existence over dinner with friends and colleagues. We spoke about the need to use our training and talents to serve our community. We felt that a concert series with a focus on fighting hunger here at home would serve artists, audiences, and those in need. Music for Food is a model that is sustainable and replicable for musicians who wish to act for hunger relief in their own communities."
~ Kim Kashkashian, Artistic Director | Founder
Music for Food, now in its fourteenth season (2023-24), has grown to include 22 chapter cities in the U.S., Canada, and Taiwan. More than 350 international artists have performed on Music for Food concerts worldwide.
Music for Food has created over 2 million meals through donations made at concerts for nearly 100 hunger-relief organizations.