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.

