Reaching Out Through MIDWESTpeeps
by June Blazek
USTORM thrives on its support from local contributors and volunteers. One of the major contribution teams is MIDWESTpeeps.
MIDWESTpeeps is a merchandise company dedicated to the great music and art community throughout the MIDWEST. In addition to their full line of merchandise, they specialize in creating tour posters and fliers, album covers, band merchandise, and more. A portion of their proceeds generously goes to USTORM as well.
Co-owners of MIDWESTpeeps Steve (Britches) Britz, John Engelman and Aaron (Louie) Mayette, have showed up to countless USTORM events to coordinate volunteer work and orchestrate raffles and games to raise money for the kids.
Louie calls their role in helping USTORM as the permanent volunteer help that facilitates the physical running of any kind of USTORM event. Their attitude and foundation is based on the idea that they want to see the music community in the Midwest pull together in strength and awareness. By teaming up with USTORM, they're tapping into that community and giving back to something for the common good: raising money and awareness to help future musicians.
Whether it's running a raffle or taking cash donations, MIDWESTpeeps is a good representative for USTORM in the music community because they serve as a friendly face that loves to help explain what USTORM is and how it works. They want to see people not only experience the satisfaction of helping out another music student, but also get the chance to win something awesome - or just have a lot of FUN in the process.
Face-time with MIDWESTpeeps at a raffle or game at a USTORM event is a great way to become a part of community awareness without even knowing you're doing it. This face time ends up being a great way to get to know them and meet other local people with common interests.
Louie's favorite part of working with USTORM is being able to stand there and talk to people about what USTORM is and how it works. He is always amazed at people's generosity, willingness and genuine interest in finding out more details about how to get involved. "It's an easy sale!" says Louie. No matter what the event is, most people recognize the cause as something for that contributes to the future of the music community so it is important to the individual to contribute a few extra bucks here and there for something that gives back. That "extra couple bucks here and there" adds up fast as many people donate, ending up a major breadwinner for the charity.
Louie says it's really rewarding because at least half of the people who come by will throw some money in the bucket or buy a raffle ticket for a prize. A lot of people don't even care about what's in the raffle – they just want to help. That's not to say that USTORM doesn't offer awesome prizes! People have won anything from signed musical instruments or highly desirable concert tickets to CD prize packages or tee-shirts.
MIDWESTpeeps has recently worked with USTORM in designing new USTORM merchandise for purchase with proceeds going to USTORM. See the USTORM website for more information about merchandise!
If you see a MIDWESTpeeps representative at a USTORM event, feel free to ask questions and get more information about what they're doing with USTORM and how you can be a part of the team, even if it's only by donating though a raffle or auction. As Louie puts it, MIDWESTpeeps sees USTORM's cause as the starting point for great music – the kids! – so they are always eager for every ear to bend on the topic. So stop by and say HI to MIDWESTpeeps!