GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — This winter, The Mitten Brewing Company and The Mitten State have teamed up to proclaim “Love Shouldn’t Hurt.” The companies’ Mitten Foundation collaboration will raise funds and awareness for victims of domestic abuse.
Sales of LOVE IPA, a red India Pale Ale brewed for the cause, or a LOVE tee, hoodie or glass will support Safe Haven Ministries: a Grand Rapids organization dedicated to serving women and children who have suffered domestic abuse.
“Helping families in our area this winter is as easy as enjoying the Michigan beer and apparel you already love,” said Scott Zubrickas, co-owner of The Mitten State.
The fundraiser kicks off on November 21 and will continue until the companies have raised $10,000 for Safe Haven Ministries. The funds will underwrite shelter costs for area women and children seeking safety from domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse is a prevalent issue nationwide: one in three women have been victims of physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, according to a national report from the CDC. The problem pervades Grand Rapids, too.
“Last year, our two companies came together to grant money to our Westside neighbors in need of heating assistance. We noticed that the bulk of the applications came from women, but more interesting was that they were all survivors of domestic abuse,” said Dana Mate Dones, president of Mitten Foundation, Inc. “This year we understood that the best approach to helping was through the experts in the subject, Safe Haven.”
Safe Haven Ministries provides emergency shelter, case management, support groups and more to women and children suffering from domestic abuse. The organization also provides education and prevention programs for businesses, schools, healthcare providers and other members of the community.
LOVE IPA will be sold only at The Mitten Brewing Company’s Grand Rapids location at 527 Leonard St NW. LOVE branded apparel and goods will be available for purchase online at themittenstate.com or at The Mitten State shop at 415 Bridge St NW.
“We’re confident that with the help of our amazing customers we can meet our goal and ensure that area women and children in crisis are safe and warm this winter season,” said Chris Andrus, co-owner of The Mitten Brewing Company.
About The Mitten Brewing Company
The Mitten Brewing Company was founded in November 2012 by lifelong friends Chris Andrus and Max Trierweiler. The brewery originated in Grand Rapids’s historic Engine House No. 9 and is a vintage baseball-themed microbrewery/pizzeria with a focus on community involvement and charitable giving. The Mitten’s signature craft beer, pizza, and service can now be found in three spots along the West Michigan coast, with satellite locations in Northport and Saugatuck.
About The Mitten State
Co-founded by two friends in 2006, The Mitten State curates designs reminiscent of ‘70s- and ‘80s-era graphic apparel that incorporate symbols, events and people that evoke their home state. Working from a design studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they strive to release products in limited quantities that reflect the Michigan story. More than just an apparel company, The Mitten State is a project reflective of the community and culture of Michigan, its uniqueness and its fanbase.