Basically, we are a bunch of people who love to dance to Donna the Buffalo, and want to share the good energy we feel at the shows, so we raise money for local organizations that serve people in need wherever the band takes us.

 

Between December 2001 and January 2004, we raised over $26,000 from Ithaca, New York to Cozumel, Mexico, that went straight to work in the hands of people who feed hungry people, house homeless people, take care of kids, feed and cloth kids, empower women who left violent homes to live independently, serve families of kids with special needs, serve medical needs, give holiday presents to kids in the hospital, save homeless pets, and provide music and art experiences for low-income folks.

 

We had a Herd Party room at Winterfest 2001.  Everyone staying at the Holiday Inn who wanted to party with the Herd gave ten dollars for the party room.  There was food galore, and door prizes, and sharing all around in the usual Herd style.  It was a central collection point for the toys and gifts people brought, at the request of the band, to give to the Children's Drop-In Center in Ithaca.  Well, there was some money leftover, to the tune of $500, so we decided to give that to the Center, too.  That felt good.

 

Then, along about April, Barbara was talking to her wise woman about the whole Herd scene and how much love was there.  She thought maybe there would be a way to harness some of that love and good energy being whipped up by Donna, and spread around to people who need it.  The next morning she woke up thinking about charity, and wrote to the Herdlist with an idea that went something like this:  "Remember when we gave to the kids at Winterfest folks?  Let's do that more often."   E-mails started flying this way and that with support for the idea and possible names and excitement and, well, it was just a natural step for this loving group to take.  Barbara wrote to Barnaby, the band manager, and asked if it was OK with the band, and he replied something like "You'll have no objection from us!"  Herd Charity was born.  And Great Blue Heron 2002 was the site of the first official Side to Side Project. 

 

Barbara had never before had so many people take one of my ideas and so enthusiastically carry it out.  And at Great Blue Heron and then Grassroots, the Herd blew her away with their energy and their uncanny ability to spontaneously do what needed to be done and provide the supplies and energy necessary, without much real logistical planning.  She led these people who were genorously giving of their vacation and celebration time to do good by putting the info out there, and trusting that what needed to be done would be done.  And it is a beautiful thing, that each person who leads a project comes back to the prez thanking her for letting them do it, and astounded at how the generous the Herd is.  People who sell tickets come and say that they loved doing it, they had so much fun and met so many people and thank you, thank you.  

 

Thank you, Herd!