Tacoma beer community helps Hoppy Holiday Food Drive
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that community is an essential part of Pierce County. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the region in March, community organizations stepped up to ensure that our region’s vulnerable residents, among them, people experiencing homelessness, those who lost their jobs and don’t qualify for traditional unemployment benefits, and people in need of food. Despite the pandemic changing nearly everything about our lives — how we work, where we go, how we interact with others — community organizations continue to take care of their clients and offer some good news in a pretty dreary period. With that being said, the Hoppy Holiday Food Drive feels particularly significant this year.
Douville Home Group, in partnership with Peaks & Pints, has kicked off the second annual Hoppy Holiday Food Drive, where Pierce County breweries and cideries come together to support the Emergency Food Network. Through Jan. 8, 2021, seven breweries and one cidery will collect non-perishable food items and hygiene products to be distributed to thousands of Pierce County residents in need. Food donors will receive raffle tickets for prizes announced at the Hoppy Holiday Food Drive Appreciation Party at Peaks & Pints Facebook Live Jan. 11.
“We were thrilled to hear how eager our brewer friends were to participate in the Hoppy Holiday Food Drive again,” says John Douville, co-owner of Douville Home Group with his wife and business partner, Catie Douvile. “We were even more excited to have two new breweries and a cidery join the cause.” In addition to last year’s Hoppy Holiday food poundage trophy winner E9 Brewing and runners-up 7 Seas Brewing, Narrows Brewing, Odd Otter Brewing, and Wingman Brewers, new collection spots Grit City Ciderworks, Sig Brewing, and Wet Coast Brewing have joined the effort.
“Though this year has thrown challenges at our craft beer industry friends, they are still committed and eager to serve the community,” adds John.
Last year, Emergency Food Network distributed 14 million pounds of food to Pierce County residents, 10,000 pounds of which came from the Hoppy Holiday Food Drive.
“In Pierce County, one in seven people are considered food insecure. EFN tackles this statistic head-on, by serving more than one million food program guests, and that’s why we’ve chosen to work with them again,” says Catie Douville. “Even more so, we recognize that our brewery friends have struggled in light of the coronavirus pandemic, and we hope this will encourage the community to show their support whether in person or online.”
To best serve the community safely in the current climate, not only will the breweries and cidery each have donation bins located withing their taproom but an option to donate online will also be available at www.hoppyholidayfoodrive.com. The brewery or cidery that collections the most food and money will receive the Hoppy Holiday Food Drive trophy.
The drive officially closes January 8 when food will be collected and weighed, with the official results and trophy ceremony held virtually January 11 at Peaks & Pints craft beer bar, bottle shop and restaurant in Tacoma’s Proctor District.
“We’re ‘hoppy’ to be the official venue and partner of Hoppy Holiday Food Drive again,” says Ron Swarner, co-owner of Peaks & Pints. “Even through our brewery and cidery friends and guests can’t physically be present for the final celebration, everyone can join us on our Facebook Live room January 11.”
How to participate:
- Through January 8, bring non-perishable food and hygiene items to one of the select breweries, cidery, and Peaks & Pints; receive a raffle ticket for prizes at the Hoppy Holiday Food Drive Appreciation Party.
- Make a donation at hoppyholidayfooddrive.com toward your favorite brewery’s effort.
- January 11, join in the celebration at Peaks & Pints Facebook Live for the final weigh-in and announcement of the Hoppy Holiday Food Drive craft venue winner and public raffle winners.
Please help fill food bins at:
7 Seas Brewing: 2101 Jefferson Ave. Tacoma; 3006 Judson St. Gig Harbor
E9 Brewing: 2506 Fawcett Ave. Tacoma
Grit City Ciderworks: 1016 MLK Jr. Way Tacoma
Narrow Brewing: 9007 S. 19th St. Tacoma
Odd Otter Brewing: 716 Pacific Ave. Tacoma
Sig Brewing: 2534 Tacoma Ave. Tacoma
Wet Coast Brewing: 6820 Kimball Dr. Gig Harbor
Wingman Brewers: 509 Puyallup Ave. Tacoma
