The Country Music Association is partnering with Feeding America to provide four million meals in cities with large populations of musicians and music industry professionals who have been unemployed and are feeling the financial pain of the pandemic. In addition, the CMA's Music Industry COVID Support (MICS) Initiative will help those in cities like Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon, and that's thanks in part to Blake Shelton. He was part of the initiative in helping get financial support for the food banks.
Blake told the AP, “There are a lot of people struggling in our country, and COVID has only made that worse. People are going to bed hungry at night now more than ever, and I just can’t live with that. I’ve been passionate for a long time about helping folks get the food they need.”
He says he feels fortunate to have been able to continue paying his band and crew over the past year, but that's not the case for most.
He added, “This pandemic has affected people all across the country, working in all different kinds of industries, from restaurants to schools to travel. What more can be done? The world is starting to open up again, and tours and shows are being announced daily. So go support your favorite artists, bands, orchestras, theaters. Of course, do it safely, but let’s have some fun again!”
