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Brewery Vivant, Twisted Rooster fundraiser pulls thousands of meals for West Michigan's hungry

Feeding America West Michigan
Feeding America West Michigan
11/25/13 02:51pm
metro Nonprofit Dispatches

This dispatch was added by one of our Nonprofit Neighbors. It does not represent the editorial voice of The Rapidian or Community Media Center.

The Nov. 21 tap takeover raised money for anti-hunger group Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank.

/Brewery Vivant

West Michigan Hunger Facts

  • “Food insecurity” refers to a person's inability at some point in the year to access enough food to live a healthy, active life.
  • 1 in 7 people in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula is food insecure.
  • Among children, that figure is 1 in 5.
  • Every year, approximately 40 percent of the food produced in the United States goes to waste.
  • Food banks like Feeding America West Michigan work with local farmers, grocery stores, food processors and transportation companies to prevent surplus food from going to waste.
  • Feeding America West Michigan distributes that food to more than 1,200 food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters from Benton Harbor through the Upper Peninsula.
  • Kent County may lose more than $11 million in federal hunger-relief benefits over the next year, according to Feeding America's national office.
Nov. 21 was the second time Brewery Vivant and Meritage Hospitality Group collaborated to fight hunger.

Nov. 21 was the second time Brewery Vivant and Meritage Hospitality Group collaborated to fight hunger. /Brewery Vivant

/Feeding America West Michigan

Last Thursday, Grand Rapids beer lovers packed Twisted Rooster to sample the latest concoctions from a local brewery and raise money for hunger relief. The event raised a total of $1,473.60 for Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank.

The Brewery Vivant tap takeover featured seven flagship and seasonal ales and drew nearly 500 people. Twisted Rooster will donate — and Brewery Vivant will match — $736.80, or 10 percent of the restaurant’s total sales for the evening. The donation will fund the distribution of nearly 5,900 meals to people in West Michigan.

“Food insecurity in our community is more prevalent than we’ve ever seen it,” said Ken Estelle, CEO of Feeding America West Michigan, now in its 32nd year of operation.

“At this time of year, many families are going to be forced to choose between heating their homes and buying groceries,” Estelle said. “This donation will ensure that their basic needs are met.”

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