The Man in Black who “walked the line†is coming to Downtown Toledo — in spirit — as the inspiration behind a fundraiser for
a local food pantry. The second annual “Raise Some Cash†concert will take place at 7 p.m. on May 16 at The Blarney Irish Pub & Grill in Downtown Toledo. The fundraiser will benefit the Augsburg Lutheran distribution center for the Feed Your Neighbor program. According to event coordinator Larry Meyer, this benefit concert is a critical occurrence for the Augsburg food pantry. “The need in our community is only going to increase right now,†he said. “Everyone gives during the holidays, then the rest of the year is when [the distribution center] has to scrape to get by.†Meyer said the theme for this benefit needed to be recognizable and catchy thus, Johnny Cash became the face of the event. Bands mostly play Cash songs or their songs in his style. “[Cash] seemed to provide a good hook,†he said. The event organizer said Cash’s philanthropic work as a devout Christian and his iconic nature were also factors in his choice.
The initial “Raise Some Cash†event raised 33 percent of Augsburg’s operating costs, which helped it maintain its reputation as a “food pantry of choice.â€Â According to Meyer, this helps those in need to maintain their dignity while seeking assistance from the church.