March 30, 2020
South Bend Venues Parks & Arts (SBVPA) is providing an opportunity for the community to help local emergency food services during this time of crisis. As food is one of the biggest needs in our area right now, SBVPA is selling t-shirts with all proceeds benefiting The United Way of St. Joseph County’s COVID 19 Emergency Response Fund.
T-shirts are available for purchase online via the SBVPA website at sbvpa.org/sidebyside for $25 each. The “Side-by-Side” campaign invites the community to wear this shirt proudly, as we stand side-by-side next to our local heroes and serve as a reminder that in this city, we’re always together even when we’re apart.
“Throughout this difficult time, we want to help make sure the most basic needs of our community continue to be met” said SBVPA Executive Director, Aaron Perri. “This is an opportunity for those asking how to help while also using the platform to highlight how people are coming together.”
100% of proceeds from every shirt sold will be donated to the United Way of St. Joseph County to help fund the COVID-19 Emergency Food Security Initiative. Lead gifts are being made possible by the generosity of the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, the Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation, and the City of South Bend.
Partners include: Food Bank of Northern Indiana, Cultivate Culinary, South Bend Community School Corporation, Real Services, Success Academy, St. Joseph County Health Improvement Alliance, University of Notre Dame, Ivy Tech and Stanz Foods.
The campaign is two-fold with a social media conversation, highlighting and encouraging those inspiring good in our community in the midst of these difficult days. Social media users are encouraged to join the conversation using the hashtag #SBSideBySide. Posts will be shared to the South Bend Venues Parks & Arts Facebook and Instagram Pages (@sbvpa).
Venues Parks & Arts is a department in the City of South Bend that inspires a more livable South Bend for all, connecting people to emotionally engaging experiences and to one another. For more information about Venues Parks & Arts, visit www.sbvpa.org.
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