Port Huron, MI — Four years ago the board of directors for Mid City Nutrition realized more than ever that they didn’t have the room to do their work. With a steady increase of clients to feed, and a desire to expand their work, they decided it was time to raise money for a new building.
Board member Bethany Belanger shared that from the moment they made that decision, the community has rallied to their cause.
The new building will be on the corner of Griswold and 9th Streets in Port Huron, and the groundbreaking ceremony was on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. The nonprofit shared a beautiful outdoor celebration with a large crowd of supporters from the Blue Water Chamber of Commerce, the City of Port Huron, fellow nonprofit organizations, and the community.
The future building will be one story with easy access for the handicapped and include a large dining room, commercial kitchen, storage areas, bathroom facilities, and a teaching kitchen for cooking classes. Belanger foresees the teaching kitchen doubling as a source of income for Mid City Nutrition as it could be available for rent to small businesses or caterers who could use it for prep.
The building project will be supervised by Gary Beem, owner of Beem Construction, and will benefit from in-kind donations from Blue Water Glass, Port Huron Paint, and others along with a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. The teaching kitchen has been supported by the Stebbins Family Fund of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and will be named the Stebbins Family Nutrition Center.
When asked how she feels about the support Mid City has received for their building project, Bethany Belanger said, “So many people have supported this project. We are absolutely blessed. It’s a need in this community. It’s a necessity. Maybe someday it won’t be, but it’s just gotten greater.”
Mid City Nutrition is holding their annual fundraiser the week of May 17 – 21st. The online event will air on Blue Water Healthy Living on Monday, May 17th at 6 PM and replayed throughout the week. The event includes entertainment, celebrity chefs, and an auction for 8 incredible dining, wine & spirits, and entertainment packages. Visit Mid City Nutrition’s Facebook Event page <HERE>.
Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand
