Banding together to feed the hungry

Contrary to its name, local band Frostbite has warmed hearts for the past four years by putting on benefit concerts for the hungry.

Band vocalist Isidro Garcia said he grew up in a poor neighborhood in Albuquerque and alongside impoverished people, and it motivated him to give back now that he’s able to.

“I always find it kind of interesting that more people that have been around it (and) that have seen it firsthand tend to give back more often than people that could do it in a more significant way,” he said.

The band will put on a show at Launchpad with local musicians and invite people to donate nonperishable food items that will go to Roadrunner Food Bank. The past four food drives collected food and cash donations only the night of the show. This year the band is teaming with Planet Fitness, which will have food barrels at their locations, to raise the contributions. Planet Fitness will collect donations until Jan. 3.

AnnaMarie Maez, Garcia’s friend who works for Roadrunner Food Bank, said the band has helped the establishment raise 250-375 pounds of food each year, and the drive has fed hundreds.

“Everybody brought food, and everybody is so giving when it comes to feeding the hungry, especially when they go to have a good time, and you’re still helping out the community,” Maez said.

Garcia said groups have followed Frostbite’s lead.

“There are a lot of food drives and things like that that are happening now, but when I started doing this, there was none of that,” he said. “You create awareness, and people follow suit in the name of helping people out. It’s grown as far as people bringing stuff together.”

Garcia said the food drive shows that people can put aside differences to work together toward a common cause.

“Every year it’s just been bigger and bigger,” he said. “It’s kind of like a dream come true to me. I’m in a position where I can put a show together, get all these different bands together, and benefit people that I see — been seeing my whole life.”