AT FRONT: Lita Hope. ABOVE: Ed and the Educators.

Never doubt the ability of 209-area musicians to multi-task.

To prove it, a dozen local music acts will spread some holiday cheer while simultaneously combating hunger in the community this Saturday during Bowl Jam Presents "The Twelve Bands of Christmas."

The event takes place in Pacific Bowl's Cocktail Lounge at 5939 Pacific Ave. in Stockton, beginning at noon.

For a cover charge of $5 or two non-perishable food items, attendees can enjoy a cross-genre ticket during a twelve-hour marathon show while supporting a noble cause. All proceeds from the show will go to aiding the Greater Stockton Emergency Food Bank, which serves an estimated 100,000 people in San Joaquin County each year.

"This is really the kind of thing you would like to do 365 days out of the year, but business sort of gets in the way," says Mike Gardineer, Pacific Bowl's bar manager and event co-organizer. "The least we can do is once at this time of year."

The timing is right. Food Bank Community Outreach Manager Kristine Gibson says that in addition to the usual spike in need during the holiday season, the food bank has seen an increase in clientele of 10 to 20 percent since the same time last year.

Unfortunately for the Food Bank's clients, increase in need has not necessarily been met by correlated increase in donations.

"Things are tight all around," Gibson explains. She does, however, note that the holidays usually see a rise in food drives and fund-raising events similar to the one planned for Saturday at Pacific Bowl.

Gardineer, 46, says it feels good to be part of an event that could have a direct, positive effect on the community, and that he and co-organizer and performer Eric "K" Luis are hoping local music fans will show up for support.

"Think of how much help we could give to the people who really need it, if everyone just gave one dollar. The total would be staggering," says Luis, 30. "And if people aren't sure where to take that dollar, we'll be at the Bowl all day, and will graciously accept their contribution."

In addition to donating their time, the bands themselves will contribute food items. For their part, the ownership of Pacific Bowl has offered the performance space free of charge.

There will also be fund-raising raffles, and Gardineer will earmark a dollar from every pitcher sold to be given to the Food Bank.

"It's great to see this kind of support around the holidays," says Gibson, 39. "But, of course, we'd also like to see it in March, in June. People are hungry year round."

For those who can't make it out to the alley on Saturday, donations of food or financial support to the Greater Stockton Emergency Food Bank can be made by visiting the Food Bank at its main office at 7 West Scotts Avenue in Stockton.

For those planning to attend the show, here's your lineup:

Noon - Lita Hope

1 pm - Metal Worx

2 pm - The Great Oglee Moglee Blues Band

3 pm - 90 Proof

4 pm - The Yellow Dot Project

5 pm - Raul G

6 pm - Neglected

7 pm - Letter K and the Alphabet Asylum

8 pm - Ed and the Educators

9 pm - Stories in Stone

10 pm - Solidify

11 pm - Accidentally Murdered