This year’s event will be held from noon until 10 p.m., Saturday, May 3, at the Route 5 Event Center in Dunkirk. All proceeds from the event will support the Chautauqua County Rural Ministry, through the Friendly Kitchen and the Emergency Food Pantry.

Tickets cost $20 presale and $25 at the door, and are available at the Rural Ministry at 319 Washington Ave., at Li’l Ginger’s Deli on Central Ave., or by calling Lorie Mets at (716) 785-7820 or emailing metsmichalak@gmail.com.

Mets, a Rural Ministry Board member and event organizer, said last year’s event was so successful, two bands approached the Rural Ministry about joining this year’s event. Kicking off the event at noon is Ion Sky, the first of nine bands to perform on the day. The event is closed out by Uncle Ben’s Remedy, wrapping up around 10 p.m. Also set to perform at the event: The Living Room Jam Band, Two Towns, Pedro and the Smooth Cats, Headrush, Furious George, The Swamp Yankees, and 10 Cent Howl. All nine bands have elected to donate their time for the event.

“We’re really fortunate to have all of them donate their time to help us out,” Mets said. “It’s incredible because it’s a Saturday night, when they could be out playing and making money, they are choosing to donate their time to help us. We’re definitely grateful for that.”

OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen The Route 5 Event Center in Dunkirk will host the second annual Cinco de Mayo Music Fest from noon to 10 p.m., Saturday, May 3, to benefit the Chautauqua County Rural Ministry.

Tickets include food throughout the day. A cash bar will also be available. The event will also feature a 50-50 drawing, a basket raffle, and an even larger basket raffle. In total, approximately 40 baskets will be available. Merchandise for the event is also on sale, including jackets, t-shirts and drink koozies.

Among the many sponsors for the Cinco de Mayo event include Farrell Roofing, Woodbury Winery and Vineyards, Lake Shore Savings Bank, Northland Contracting, Agricultural Transport, S. St. George Enterprises, and Dom Polski’s. A sizable raffle gift has been donated by Nuisance No More. Photography for the event will be provided by Kevin Polowy Photography and Lisa Nasca of Photographic Images Unlimited.

In recent years, the Chautauqua County Rural Ministry has lost a substantial amount of grant funding. Administrators, staff, and board members have been searching for new ways to fundraise in recent years, which is how the event began a year ago. Now with grant funding uncertainty throughout the nation and recent cuts impacting programs like FeedMore, the need to support causes like the Friendly Kitchen and local food pantries is as high as ever.

“The need is so great around here. We’re so fortunate to be part of a community that continues to give, even though they don’t have a whole lot to give,” Mets said. “People still find it in their hearts to give and support, which they always do. We’re so grateful for that.”

According to Executive Director Bridget Majka, the Emergency Food Pantry provides close to 160,000 meals each year, while Friendly Kitchen serves roughly 44,000 meals a year, with an uptick of approximately 300 more meals each month. Together, approximately 200,000 meals are served each year by the Rural Ministry’s staff and volunteers.

“Those numbers are pretty shocking because we’re such a small community. The fact that we’re pumping out that many meals for people, it’s just wonderful that we’re able to do it,” Majka said.

To donate to the Chautauqua County Rural Ministry, monetary donations or items for the food pantry are welcomed at 319 Washington Ave., Dunkirk.