Downtown Salem was the place thousands wanted to be last week-end, at the first annual Summer in the City event sponsored by the Go Downtown! business coalition and benefiting Marion-Polk Foodshare and its auxiliary, Women Ending Hunger. The week-end long event featured four stages with bands like Pound 4 Pound and the Renee Hill Band whose jazz and country blends filled the air while nearby people sampled area wines and cruised through dozens of booths. Go Downtown! grew out of a 2007 City of Salem survey where over 3,000 area residents indicated they would like to see more downtown events. The added draw of a good cause drew sizeable crowds well into the evening hours.

The Foodshare, hard hit by hard times, is suffering empty shelves alongside a 15-per cent increase in demand, according to director, Ron Hays, making the cans of food visitors donated a welcome relief. Business and non-profit groups are also lending a hand to Women Ending Hunger, formed this Spring to enlist women in the cause of ending hunger in Marion and Polk Counties. On Tuesday Foodshare announced the Summer in the City event raised 12,637 pounds of food and $7,238 in cash, as well as signing up over 300 new individuals to Women Ending Hunger ( See schedule for event coverage air times).