11/14, Hanger on the Hudson, Troy
“People just want to connect; they want to be seen and they want to be understood … On the ground, it doesn’t matter what your political leaning is. If you don’t have food, you’re in the same boat. In our community, it’s really about helping each other.”
At a time when federal cuts are being implemented under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, people who rely on federal assistance programs, such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), face even greater pressure. Coupled with inflation, these cuts could increase the number of food-insecure Americans, which reached 47.9 million in 2024, according to the Food Research & Action Center.
Cuts to these programs may ultimately shift some of the financial burden onto state and local communities. But the actions of community organizations such as Oakwood Community Center in Troy demonstrate how people can rise to the occasion to serve those in need.
On November 14, Hangar on the Hudson is set to host the center’s fourth annual Rock the Pantry event. The fundraising event serves as a huge boon for the center. Proceeds from this fundraiser go directly back into the organization, helping it continue its weekly food pantry for those in the community. Bands from Swordpaw Studios, a studio within the Oakwood Community Center, will be the musical backdrop for the evening. Performing this year are Bear Grass, Front Biz, Pony in the Pancake, and Nathan Meltz & the House of Tomorrow.
Shanna Goldman, director of the Oakwood Community Center, gave the backstory of how she came to formulate Rock the Pantry with her husband, Ian White, who runs Swordpaw Studios. Some years after they were married, White had a scheduled release show for his band at the Hangar, but plans fell through.
“The place was booked, but the band couldn’t host their thing,” Goldman said. “I was like, what if we did it for a fundraiser for Oakwood and we got all the same bands?”
After White and Goldman had children, Peter Lavery stepped in to help run the studio. While it was a scramble to get the first event going, Lavery notes how expansive the musical aspect of the event has gotten in such a short time, saying that anywhere from four to seven bands from the studio come in to perform for Rock the Pantry. But the musical roster isn’t the only thing growing; so is community interest.
“We had over 100 people in attendance,” Goldman said. “Because of the threat to SNAP funding last year, it was something that everybody really wanted to support … We raised over $15,000 with that event last year, which was incredible.”
Incredible, indeed. The Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) is Oakwood Community Center’s main source of outside funding, and as a result, money is tight for the organization. Goldman explained how Rock the Pantry greatly helps the center keep supplying food for those in the community. The number of families this center provides for during its Saturday food pantry is astonishing. According to Goldman, Oakwood helps feed around 280 families in the Troy area every month. Regarding the event, Goldman was understandably enthusiastic.
“It’s the most fun way to support 280 families a month,” Goldman said. “These are families who often have one or two jobs, who are supporting kids, and who are just struggling to choose between paying for heat, paying for rent, and paying for food. [The fundraiser] allows us to stock our food pantry with food, it allows us to fill the holiday bags we give out during the holiday meals, and it allows you to hear some really great music at a really great venue.”
In terms of a ticketed event, the prices are extremely accessible: $25 for entry to see four bands. If people choose to support the center at a higher level, they can do so by going to their website.
“It’s a great way to have a direct impact to support families in the local community,” Lavery said.
Oakwood, as Goldman explains, is a place that is built on community relationships. It doesn’t matter which side of the political aisle someone finds themselves on; they’re all there for a common purpose.
Everyone who goes there is invested in each other, and people who use the food pantry often volunteer there as well. The sense of family seen at the center permeates all facets of it. Even the origin of Swordpaw Studios’ name holds this sentiment.
As Lavery and Goldman reflect, the name came from the child of Dylan Palazzo, a member of the band Sea of Trees that rehearsed in the space. When the child suggested a name to Palazzo, they were misheard. Instead of “sore paw” they were heard as saying “Swordpaw.” This infectiously innocent mondegreen stuck, and the name was born.
Goldman’s musings near the end of our interview perhaps best summarize the goal of the center and the mindset that drives her and everyone involved.
“People just want to connect; they want to be seen and they want to be understood,” Goldman said. “On the ground, it doesn’t matter what your political leaning is. If you don’t have food, you’re in the same boat. In our community, it’s really about helping each other.”
To learn more about the event, please click here.
