By Forrest Drinkwine
Every month, Black Warrior Brewing Company holds an event for a local charity to not only aid in raising money, but to let the residents of Tuscaloosa know where and how to get involved. The Third Thursday Songwriters Showcase gives musical artists the opportunity to play for a good cause, and gives patrons the opportunity to eat and drink for one as well.
The charity for this month’s showcase is called High Socks For Hope and is a disaster relief organization named after David Robertson of the New York Yankees. They are currently helping with the devastation from Hurricane Harvey and Irma and assisting with Tuscaloosa’s homeless veterans. High Socks For Hope was started back in 2011 when Tuscaloosa was devastated by the tornado that ran through on April 27 and currently has hundreds of volunteers.
Judy Holland, who is the Managing Director for High Socks For Hope, has been there every step of the way to ensure that those affected by disaster have the help they need.
“After the tornado, we helped the residents of Tuscaloosa by fixing their roofs and we bought furniture to furnish about 350 houses in the area,” Holland said. “Then after that, Hurricane Sandy hit and we start helping in New York and have been going ever since.”
With the disasters going on recently, High Socks For Hope has been busy assisting those that have dealt with the hurricanes in Texas and Florida.
“We have sent truckloads of supplies to both areas and are sending mattresses down to Texas,” she said. “We have been fortunate enough to receive a grant from the MLB to help assist with those affected from Harvey. We are having to help gut out the homes affected because the water damage is so extensive.”
To help assist with Third Thursday Songwriters Showcase and to make sure High Socks For Hope receive the donations possible, Eat My Beats, a local music business, has volunteered to supply the equipment for the musicians. Scott Bowman, who supplies the equipment, knows what music can do for those in need.
“We like to get involved with a good cause,” Bowman said. “We enjoy supplying the necessary equipment for the showcase and have been involved with this event since it started.”
The musicians are especially grateful for the equipment. Megan McMillan, who has performed at the Third Thursday Songwriters Showcase several times, loves giving back the best way she knows how.
“Performing for a charitable event is my favorite type of show to do and I enjoy giving back to those who need it,” McMillan said.
The Third Thursday Songwriters Showcase and Black Warrior Brewing Company will donate 20 percent of all beer and wine sales to the High Socks For Hope. There is a different food venue every month that donates for the cause and all proceeds go toward the charity as well. This month’s lineup consists of Hollye Horton, Wayward Jones, Megan T. McMillan, and Tommy O’Barr. To find out more about upcoming events, information can be found on their Facebook page, “Third Thursday Songwriters Showcase.”
