A group of local band members is using their music to fill stomachs in the community.

This is the fifth annual food drive for Scott Kallberg, guitar player for local band Flashback, which also includes Kallberg’s wife, Paulette Kallberg, on guitar, John Evans on drums, Jamie Kyllo on bass and Julie Graber as the lead singer.

For the event, Flashback Band will be joined by Wicked Renegades, which includes Albert Lea-raised brothers Nathan and Alex Talamantes, and 12 Mile Gang, a one-time band compiled for the night by Fabian Talamantes. Each group will play for over an hour, Kallberg said, and together it will be a mix of music.

The Flashback Band started approximately 13 years ago. The group plays country, oldies, rock and classic rock.

“It’s a nice sideline (gig) that we do just because we enjoy the music,” Kallberg said.

Kallberg and Evans played in high school band together. Then, about 15 years ago, “We just started getting together … just kind of messing around, playing around,” Kallberg said.

They play occasionally at the Eagles Club and have performed at Relay for Life, where they got their start performing for audiences.

“John said, ‘Hey, we’re gonna play at the Relay,’” he said. “I said, ‘Are you kidding me?’ So we did, and then once we did that we were all, we kinda got hooked. We just said, ‘Well, you know, let’s get this going again. This is fun.’”

The Eagles Club is already accepting food and cash donations for the drive, and will continue to accept donations for the whole month of March.

“We have a corner going right now that’s already started,” Eagles Club manager Tom Minehart said.

Minehart said he hopes the whole community gets involved.

Last year’s drive raised approximately 800 pounds of food and $700, Kallberg said. This year, his goal is simple: more than last year.

Kallberg said he got the idea for the food drive after seeing friends also in musical groups host similar benefits.

“Well, we could do something,” Kallberg said he thought.

Though he is also active with local veterans groups, he wanted to spread support to other places in the community. He picked the Salvation Army because he considers it to be a good and worthwhile organization, he said, and what is donated will largely stay in the community.

“(The) Salvation Army has always been there for people,” Kallberg said. “And they’ve always been there. And I thought, ‘Well, that’s a good cause.’”

Live music begins at 7 p.m. March 16. The event is free and open to the public with a donation of non-perishable food. The Eagles Club will serve food for purchase from 5 to 8 p.m.

Kallberg encourages people to donate food this month, even if they are unable to attend the event.

“If we help any families or kids, then we’ve done our job,” Kallberg said. “So I feel good about that.”

Want to go?

Who: Flashback Band, Wicked Renegades, 12 Mile Gang

What: Salvation Army Food Drive

When: 7 p.m. March 16

Where: Fraternal Order of Eagles, 202 W. William St., Albert Lea

How much: Free to the pubilc, with encouraged donation of non-perishable food items or money