NORTH ATTLEBORO - Joe and Bonnie Coggeshall were all set to hold a charity food drive at the Outlaw BBQ restaurant in Foxboro this week when they found out the Route 1 eatery had closed.

Now they are scrambling to relocate the event to the Elks Club in North Attleboro for Thursday and are overwhelmed by the offers of help they are getting.

The Elks have waived the rental fee for the hall. Good Samaritans have offered to pay the bartenders. The band Crossfire will play for free. Good and Plenty Catering is donating appetizers and local motorcycle clubs are willing to do the setting up and cleaning up.

The couple said they only had a couple of days to organize the event and need to get the word out about the change of revenue.

"We're expecting over 100 people," Bonnie Coggeshall said. "Needless to say we have been in a panic," Joe Coggeshall said.

Owners of the Shovelhead's motorcycle shop and a tattoo parlor, the couple said they want to do something to help the area's needy families during the holidays.

Demand on rise

Many groups seem to be organizing toy drives, so they decided to collect donations of food, knowing demand is up and supplies are low at local food pantries.

"Going to bed without a toy can be depressing, but going to bed without food and a toy can be really depressing," he said.

The event runs from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Elks Club on Bulfinch Road. Anyone who donates a non-perishable item can enjoy the appetizers and the music.

The Outlaw restaurant has been seized by the state Department of Revenue for a failure to pay back taxes, said Robert Bliss, a spokesman for the department.