Optimists host 10th annual FriendFest benefit
Event raises funds for Kutztown, Hamburg area scholarships, Friend’s food pantry and community services
In the middle of a winter storm, beer and wine enthusiasts gathered for the 10th annual FriendFest in Kutztown on Feb. 17 to contribute toward the Optimist Club’s youth programs and help Friend Inc. fight hunger in Northeastern Berks County.
“It’s an opportunity to bring the communities to- gether,” said Kutztown Op- timist AJ Reitz. “When you have Kutztown, Fleetwood, Hamburg, Topton, all getting together to raise money for the youth in the community, look at it, it’s a beautiful thing.”
About 250 people came out for the first session at 3 p.m., during which the snow began to fall outside on the Kutztown Fairgrounds while inside the bank Starting Tomorrow rocked Beltzner Hall. The brave ventured out into the snow for the second session that started at 6:30 p.m.
“I think the turnout’s great. We were concerned with the weather conditions but the session is great,” said Kutztown Optimist Club President Don Hickman. “The purpose of Optimism is to improve our youth, improve our community and improve ourselves. Part of this function is to be able to earn money in order to help us achieve that mission,” said Hickman.
The Optimist Club awards scholarships to high school seniors from Brandywine Heights, Fleetwood Area, Hamburg Area, and Kutztown Area School Districts who plan to attend Kutztown University. In 2016, $10,000 in scholarship money was distributed through the Donald Peters Memorial Scholarship Fund.
“Overall, Kutztown Optimist Club, we’ll end up awarding 14 scholarships out this year, in addition to helping youth out,” said Hickman. “For Christmas, we gave 185 youth Christmas gifts that they would not have received. It’s just fun to help them out.”
Featuring beer and wine tasting, live music, food for sale, silent auction and vendors, all proceeds will go to help the Kutztown Optimist Club’s children’s programs and assist Friend, Inc. end poverty and hunger in rural Northeastern Berks County.
“I think it’s a great partnership that we have with Friend Inc., there’s another way to help our community out and serve our community,” said Hickman.
According to Friend’s website, www.friendinc.org, “Friend, Inc. Community Services is a not-forprofit, multi-service agency that supports the well-being of families and individuals in need, and is committed to strengthening the lives of those living in Northeastern Berks County. Currently Friend, Inc. provides a client-choice food pantry, information and referrals, budget counseling, financial crisis intervention, and facilitates partnerships with other local service providers.”
Local breweries, wineries and distilleries in Pennsylvania and along the east coast showcased their products, including Eight Oaks Craft Distillers from New Tripoli.
According to eightoaksdistillers.com, Eight Oaks is a farm to bottle craft distillery. Chadd Butters, CEO, offered tasting of their handcrafted spirits which include vodka, rum, gin, applejack, rye whiskey and bourbon. He was happy to be showing off a Pennsylvania product.
“Came out to meet all the people and try to introduce them to our products and encourage them to come out to our distillery and just show them what craft distillery is all about,” said Butters. “So far, it’s busy and that’s nice. Everybody’s very engaged and want to know about the product which is always good.”
Weaving through the crowd of people, FriendFest attendee Nancy Batarick of Kempton said she enjoyed being out and seeing people, as well as trying the different wines.
“It’s a local event supporting local vendors and it’s the time of year you gotta get out of the house and do something,” said Batarick.
For more information about the Optimist Club or to become a member, contact at Kutztown Optimist Club PO Box 173. Kutztown, PA 19530 or email contacts@kutztownoptimist.org.
For more information about Friend, Inc., located at 658D Noble St. Kutztown, call 610-683-7790 or email Cathy Dill at cathy@friendinc.org.