It was Tuesday night in the Village of Lewiston and as I looked out my window, I saw the usual stream of car lights going by. Thousands of people were on their way home after spending the evening at Artpark’s free fabulous concert.

With this scene I’ve always had a dream. The dream was not hard to imagine — that concertgoers would bring cans of food for the two soup kitchens in Niagara Falls: Community Missions and Heart, Love & Soul. Such a simple project, but hard to implement. But this year it is going to happen.

My friend Claudia Marasco and I received approval from the Village Board to start this as a citizens group project so it would not be a burden to Artpark and its staff. We will be receiving help from both soup kitchens in the form of volunteers and trucks.

Niagara Falls needs the help of surrounding areas. Many former residents have moved to the suburbs, but still love Niagara Falls. Since industry left, jobs are scarce. Fifty-five percent of residents receive some sort of public assistance and the unemployment rate is double the national average. Attendance at the soup kitchens grows daily. Many who once helped to serve food are now in line themselves.

Don Luce, public relations director of Community Missions, said the organization provided more than 65,000 meals last year and 4,774 nights of shelter for 400 homeless individuals. It also provided 5,442 days of care for more than 150 at-risk youth.

Heart, Love & Soul pantry started in 1982, when Sacred Heart parishioners saw the need. They served eight families the first week. Now, 350 families receive food bags every month and 145 noontime meals are served each weekday. Sister Barbara Pfohl, a Stella Niagara Franciscan nun and director of Heart, Love&Soul, said her greatest joy is working with the community and caring for people. Heart, Love & Soul also provides help from other organizations, such as a nurse from St. Mary’s Hospital and a social worker from Veterans Affairs to assist the many veterans who dine there.

We hope this collection project will allow the kitchens to be stocked up year-round, especially at Christmas. Please bring canned goods or non-perishable items on Tuesdays to the free concerts at Artpark, starting this week and on each following Tuesday until Aug.

25. Volunteers will collect items just outside the ticket booth entrances on 4th Street and also in the upper lot on Portage Road.

People need not get out of their cars. Volunteers will collect items on village property so as not to interfere with Artpark property and staff.

Please put food items in a plastic bag for easy transport to collectors. Donations can include items such as tuna, soup, baby food, cereal, pasta, fruits, vegetables, paper products, baby diapers and toiletries. Financial donations are also welcome for maintenance of the kitchens and for lights, heat and gas.

These concerts provide a perfect opportunity for us to be in contact with thousands of people in an evening. We hope people will realize that the need for these two food pantries is great, and that their donations will help these organizations in their mission to feed the hungry.

May this project also help your families see the need to help others — a wonderful example to share.