16 | AUGUST 18 • 2022

H

igher Hopes! is once
again partnering
with Famous Dave’s
BBQ and Applebaum Family
Philanthropy for a Labor Day
BBQ on Friday, Sept. 2. This
event will provide 1,000 Detroit
families with everything needed
for a delicious Labor Day week-
end BBQ, including meat, spices,
sauces, sides and watermelon.
In addition, each family will be
provided with an “essentials kit”
containing hygiene and personal
products to help kids get ready
for the start of the school year.
“This event was very popular
in 2021, and we’re very happy
to bring it back in 2022,
” says
Bill Birndorf, founder of Higher
Hopes! “
As always, with any
big event like this, it’s volun-
teers who make the difference.
We’re asking the community
to support us by giving a cou-
ple hours of their time to help
assemble and pass out the meals
and essentials kits. Interested
people can email volunteer@

higherhopesdetroit.org to get
involved. The Famous Dave’s
mascot Wilbur may be making
an appearance.
”
Birndorf adds, “We rely solely
on donations to support the
families in our program. To that
end, Famous Dave’s, Applebaum
Family Philanthropy and anon-
ymous donors will be matching
all donations made in August
up to $50,000. This will help
us buy all the items needed
for our annual Thanksgiving
meal donations. Tax-deductible
donations can be made by vis-
iting higherhopesdetroit.org/
donation.
”
Approximately 1.4 million
people struggle with hunger and
food insecurities in the state of
Michigan, with approximately
400,000 of those people being
children. Hungry families are
forced to make difficult choices
each month, between paying for
food and paying for transpor-
tation, medical care, housing
and utilities. With its expansive

growth over the years, Higher
Hopes! has distributed close to
2.5 million pounds of food, with
plans in place to increase that
number in 2022.
Higher Hopes! is an agency
partner of Gleaners Food Bank
and, through its mobile pantry
platform, has been able to dis-
tribute thousands of meal kits
containing 35-45 pounds of
food every month to families
who have children enrolled in
the Early Head Start Childcare
Partnership Programs through-
out Southeastern Michigan.
Recipients are Metro Detroit-
area families with children
enrolled in these programs;

to qualify, the family’s income
must be equal to or below the
poverty line.
The Higher Hopes! mis-
sion statement is: To inspire
independence, relieve food
anxiety, and encourage family
meals together by providing
a bounty of food in nutri-
tious, multiple-meal food kits
throughout the year. Corporate
and individual contributions
are always welcome and can be
made at higherhopesdetroit.
org or at the Facebook page at
facebook.com/pages/Higher-
Hopes/351220508366604.

Submitted by Higher Hopes!

OUR COMMUNITY

Higher Hopes! and BBQ partner
with Applebaum Family Philanthropy
to raise money to help kids.

Labor Day BBQ Kits

Wilbur, The Famous
Dave’s mascot.
LEFT: Volunteers for
the Labor Day picnic.
BELOW: A Higher
Hopes food kit.