Skydog 71 collects food for those in need

Central City Park in Macon on Sunday became a center for helping those in need on the week of Thanksgiving.

Two separate events at the park sought to feed the homeless. The annual Skydog concert honoring Allman Brothers Band founding member Duane Allman collected thousands of canned goods for the Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia.

On the other end of the park, at the same time the concert was going on, a separate and new event fed over 100 homeless people.

Shining Stars, a charity founded by Sirleaner Usry and Anecia Wooden, handed out full meals to homeless people lined up at the park. They said they got the word out to the homeless through fliers and going to homeless shelters.

The Skydog concert is officially dubbed Skydog 71 in recognition of what would have been Allman’s 71st birthday on Monday. Allman, whose nickname was Skydog, was killed in a motorcycle accident in Macon in 1971.

The concert is in its 12th year and the ticket price is the donation of 10 canned goods.

“We just enjoy folks coming out on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, having a good time for a good cause,” said Kyler Mosely, who has been involved with the concert since it began..

This year the concert is also honoring Berry Oakley, a bassist who was also a founding member of the Allman Brothers. Oakley’s son was among about 25 musicians performing in the concert Sunday, Mosely said. Oakley also died in a motorcycle wreck in Macon a year after Allman was killed.

Allman’s brother, Gregg Allman, died May 27 at age 69. Both are buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon along with Oakley.

Mosely said the concert collected 7,000 cans last year and they were hoping to collect more this year. He was expecting about 1,500 people or more to attend the concert.

Randy Thomas of Macon said he comes to concert about every year.

“It’s just honoring the Allman Brothers and what they did for Macon a long time ago,” he said.

This story was originally published November 19, 2017 at 3:58 PM with the headline "Skydog 71 collects food for those in need."