Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – Native Brew Works is asking customers to drink for a cause this week as it kicks off its annual Big Love for Our Community event.
The event, which lasts from Feb. 10-15, will see one dollar from every craft beverage sold donated to one of four local nonprofits. Customers can choose which nonprofit they want to donate to by putting their ticket in the corresponding jar.
This year’s nonprofits are listed below:
- Family Crisis Center: Assists and advocates for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking
- Northeast Arkansas Humane Society: Provides homes for and advocates for animals
- St. Bernards Foundation: Supports St. Bernards’ mission to provide Christ-like healing for Northeast Arkansas
- Stepping Stone Sanctuary: Assists those who are homeless
Jackson Spencer, one of Native Brew Works’ co-owners, said $1 from the purchase of any craft drink the brewery serves can be used to donate. This includes non-alcoholic beverages.
“We have other craft beverages that are non-alcoholic. So, it’s not like you have to drink beer in order to come donate money to a nonprofit,” Spencer said. “You can pick up a root beer or another craft soda that we have there in the tap room. That’s one of the biggest changes we made this year. We’re like ‘Hey, we don’t want this to just be a thing where people feel like they have to drink beer in order to donate money.'”
The nonprofits Native Brew Works donates to vary each year, but Spencer said, regardless of which four are chosen, funds have to stay local. This can mean the nonprofit is based in Northeast Arkansas, or it is nationwide but has a local chapter.
Big Love for Our Community is just one of many local give-back events Native Brew Works hosts throughout the year. Others include its annual Friendsgiving hosted in November that benefits the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, or Bingo nights that raise funds and collect item donations for a specific nonprofit.
“We are successful because of our local community, and I think our responsibility as business owners and people operating a business in this community [is] to give back to that community that’s given so much to us,” Spencer said.
Native Brew Works is located at 515 S. Gee St. It is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. It is closed on Mondays.
