Canned items and dried foods typically are found in grocery stores, but these items also can be a ticket into a concert aiding those in need.

The University’s music learning community will be hosting a benefit concert for The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia today. “Need to Feed” will feature local talent – groups and solo acts – and will begin at 8 p.m. at Ramsey Recital Hall. Entrance fees will consist of two non-perishable food items, and though monetary donations will be accepted, they are not required for admission.

Stephanie Tingler, an associate professor in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, said this would be the third year the benefit concert has been held at the University, and that the concert is a good way to for students to help the Athens-Clarke County community.

“If you’re a UGA student, you become a part of the community here, and as long as you are a part of the community here it’s important to give back to the community,” Tingler said.

Tingler also said performances would feature a wide array of students, ranging from established ensembles hosted by the University, such as the African American Chorus and the Opera Ensemble, to local bands featuring University students.

Miles Benson, a freshman from Forsyth, will be performing a solo act consisting of vocals and guitar. He said he sees the concert as a chance to improve as a musician.

“I’m a first year student, and a music major, and it just seemed like a good opportunity to perform,” Benson said.

Benson also said he feels the concert atmosphere makes attending better for performers and audiences.

“A lot of the concerts are generally free, and only a few times when you bring someone do you have to pay,” Benson said. “Most people, when they see that money is required, it turns [them] off. But if it’s something like food that most people can donate, then more people are likely to show up.”

Benson said he hoped many people would attend because it is a great cause to contribute to and a great opportunity for performers.

“I know a lot of performers are looking to get their names out there,” Benson said.

Tina Laseter, development director at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, said the benefit concerts held in the past two years had raised approximately $3,000 and about 1,500 pounds of food, which could be made into approximately 1,100 meals.

“For every dollar that we receive, we can recover about $14 worth of food, which means that [the past concerts] have recovered $42,000 worth of food,” Laseter said. “According to the [United States Department of Agriculture], there’s about 3,000 pounds of food per second wasted in the United States. So that’s what we mean by salvaging food.”

Laseter said it was important for students to help their community, especially during times of economic crisis.

“We have seen the need for emergency food increase 15 to 20 percent, and our community is made up in large part of students. It’s important for students to see what’s going on in their community,” Laseter said.

Tingler said she hopes students will contribute to and attend the event.

“Given the current economic situation, those in need are going to be hit the hardest. And it’s just a couple of cans of food, and that can go a long way,” Tingler said.