Rock the Pantry: Oktoberfest
media release: Grab your stein and get ready to polka. The Oregon Area Food Pantry’s biggest fundraiser of the year is back, and this year it’s going Oktoberfest.
Rock the Pantry returns Saturday, October 17, from 1–4 p.m. at Gorman & Company, 200 N. Main St. in Oregon. The afternoon will feature live polka music from Buttons, Brass, & Sass, Oktoberfest-inspired food and games, drinks, a silent auction, 50/50 raffle and more, all in support of the Oregon Area Food Pantry.
Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door and include admission, food and non-alcoholic beverages. A cash bar will also be available. All proceeds from Rock the Pantry directly support the pantry and its work serving people throughout the Oregon School District.
“Rock the Pantry is about bringing our community together to have a great time while supporting our neighbors,” said Stephanie Tervort, chair of the Oregon Area Food Pantry Board of Directors. “We had such a great response to our first event last year, and we’re excited to bring it back with a completely different feel. This year we’re embracing Oktoberfest, with polka music, themed food and games, and lots of ways to have fun while raising money for the pantry.”
The fundraiser comes at a time when community support remains critical to the pantry’s work. In 2025, the Oregon Area Food Pantry served people more than 10,400 times and distributed 225,201 pounds of food and essential items. At the same time, the amount of food the pantry needed to purchase nearly doubled, increasing from 36,533 pounds in 2024 to 69,738 pounds in 2025.
In addition to live music and Oktoberfest-themed activities, guests can bid on items donated by local businesses and community members in the silent auction and try their luck in a 50/50 raffle. Sponsorship opportunities are also available, and the pantry is accepting donations for the silent auction.
Rock the Pantry debuted in 2025 as a new signature fundraising event for the Oregon Area Food Pantry, bringing together local businesses, neighbors, friends and pantry supporters for an evening of live music and fundraising. This year, the event moves to the afternoon and adds an Oktoberfest theme while continuing its mission of raising funds to help keep the pantry stocked.
About the Oregon Area Food Pantry
The Oregon Area Food Pantry has served residents of the Oregon School District for more than 20 years. The pantry provides a full-choice shopping experience where guests can select food they will use, including fresh produce, dairy, frozen meats and pantry staples, as well as personal care and household essentials when available.
In addition to its pantry operations, OAFP supports programs addressing other needs in the community, including school meals, Food 4 Break, grocery and gas gift cards, and food rescue. The organization is run entirely by volunteers.
The mission of the Oregon Area Food Pantry is to nourish the community by providing dignified access to food, basic necessities and support.
For more information about Rock the Pantry, purchasing tickets, sponsorship opportunities or supporting the pantry, visit oregonareafoodpantry.com.
