To support their neighbors displaced by the recent hurricanes, Casey Kearney and April Roach, with the help of 30A Event Planning, hosted a fundraiser and invited local businesses to give back.

The Bands of 30A Storm Relief Concert was held at the Gulf Place Amphitheater on Sunday, September 17, 2017, where all proceeds from the event were donated to Matthew 25 Ministries, an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization, who had volunteers aiding Houston and Florida Keys Hurricane victims at the time of the event.

With help from Bands of 30A, the event generated an estimated 1,000 people to gather and enjoy live music by local artists throughout the day.

The lineup included the Allman Goldflies Band, Casey Kearney, Chris Alvarado, Dread Clampitt, Forrest Williams Band, Sam Jackson, Scott Crompton, The BluJays, and Will Thompson. With sound and equipment support provided by G2 Entertainment and Scott Crompton, the concert went off without a hitch.

The Santa Rosa Beach community was a huge factor in making this event come to fruition so quickly. Sponsors included 30A, 30A Event Planning, 30A Life Photography, 30A Soft Spot, Alive and Kicking – Kickbike, Artists at Gulf Place, Better Homes and Garden Real Estate of the Emerald Coast, Coastal Insurance, East Village Fashion, Eloquent Signs, G2 Entertainment, Gulf Place, Homes on 30A, Impact Designs, ipromoteu, Justin Gaffrey Gallery, Kansas Pitts Photography, One Blood, Oyster City Brewing, Proffitt PR, and The Well Church.

“The event was put together very quickly, but because of the generosity of the community and eagerness to help it was more successful than we ever imagined,” said host and musician Casey Kearney.

Although 30A Storm Relief was free to attend, concert goers were asked to make a $10 donation for full day access to the festivities.

Grayton Beach Catering helped raise funds by plating meals for sale, in which 100% of the proceeds went back to the relief fund. Oyster City, Bayou Bills, and Stinky’s Fish Camp were also on site to provide guests with libations.

Altogether, the event raised a grand total of $13,000, to Matthew 25 Ministries, which will all be going directly to aide those affected in Houston and the Florida Keys.

In addition to monetary donations, guests were encouraged to stop by the OneBlood Bus to give blood. The OneBlood Employees expected 12-15 people to donate, however the event superseded their expectations with an astounding 34 donors throughout the day. In turn, OneBlood was able to help 102 patients in need of blood in one day.

“Every two seconds someone needs blood,” said OneBlood representative, Justin Malan.

“The blood donated at Bands of 30A Storm Relief’s blood drive was likely transfused into a patient within 48 to 72 hours. The turnaround is that fast and the need is that constant.”

Bands of 30A, a newly formed organization, is designed to connect the amazing talent of the Emerald Coast to the area’s venues, locals, and visitors. They hope to come together to do more charity events like this in the future.

For more info, follow Bands of 30A on Facebook.