WILL VOLUNTEER FOR FOOD LPOV goes gala; you can come, too BY SARA DONNELLY

The Portland League of Independent Voters (PLIV) (the umbrella organization for the League of Pissed Off Voters, a progressive activist group targeting people ages 17 to 35), has always been warm and fuzzy when it comes to making the common man feel welcome. Their new Taste for Change fundraiser is no different. On November 12, the League will host a $75-a-plate banquet fundraiser at the Eastland Hotel in Portland. The event will feature a silent and live auction, dancing, music, and food and drinks from more than 20 regional restaurants and wineries.

What’s that? You have the fabulous palate and sense of rhythm to attend such a gala event, but not the coin for the price of admission? Well, have no fear. PLIV has partnered with four local nonprofits — the Preble Street Resource Center, Portland Trails, the Maine Toxics Action Center, and the Maine Won’t Discriminate Campaign — to work out a unique deal for the penny pinchers among us. Donate 10 hours of volunteer time to any of the above groups and earn one complimentary ticket to Taste for Change. One earned ticket per person. It’s so good and civic-minded it makes us nauseous just thinking about it.

"We realized the ticket price really wasn’t going to allow our members and other young people to enjoy the event," explains Justin Alfond, the League’s Maine state director. "We wanted to connect our commitment to the community to allow our members and those interested to come to the event in exchange for volunteering."

Alfond says 100 volunteer hours have already been logged at Maine Won’t Discriminate since the event was announced in early September. The League is not limiting the number of tickets sold by volunteer barter.

"The best-case scenario would be the Eastland Hotel is so full there are too many people," says Alfond.

Let’s hope for the sake of the fundraiser that some of those Eastland partiers will use the money they saved through volunteering to bid at the event auctions.