Donations Still Made to Local Charities Despite ‘Brewfest’ Cancellation

FROM THE WHEELING NEWS-RESISTER – Despite the cancellation of the annual Mountaineer Brewfest due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Main Street Bank teamed up with Brewfest organizers and the local Circus Saints and Sinners Club to donate a total of $3,500 to seven local charities.

“Each year we anticipate being able to help a local charity selected by our committee to be the recipient of our festival proceeds,” Brewfest Founder and President Jeff Hayes said. “But with this year’s postponement, we had to notify them there will be no festival and to please apply again in 2021.”

The 7th Annual Mountaineer Brewfest was scheduled to take place this weekend at Wheeling’s Heritage Port, but was postponed until Aug. 21, 2021.

Earlier this week, Main Street Bank President Rich Lucas reached out to Brewfest board member Jeff Yourkovich about missing this year’s festival. Lucas wanted to know what the bank could do to help this year’s selected charity. Since a charity wasn’t selected yet, they decided to donate to each of this year’s applicants.

Hayes said the Circus Saints and Sinners Poodles Hanneford Tent joined efforts with Main Street Bank and The Mountaineer Brewfest to make a $500 donation to each charity.

The seven charities included: King’s Daughters Child Care Centers, A Special Wish Foundation Ohio Valley, Crittenton Services, Information Helpline, Youth Services System, Inc, PURPOSE Inc., and Wheeling Health Right.

“We want to thank Rich Lucas for reaching out and are so honored to have the support of Main Street Bank, Saints & Sinners, and so many other incredible sponsors year after year,” Hayes said.

Hayes said he notified each of the charities about the donations Wednesday evening.

“We let them know last night and we have been getting great responses from them,” he added. Hayes said they have been able to donate more than $95,000 to local charities since the inception of the Brewfest.

“We all understand the need to invest in our community,” Lucas added. “While the pandemic has made it harder to raise money for these organizations, their missions and their needs have not changed. We are doing our part to help these charities provide services to our friends and neighbors in need in our community.”

Chuck Hood, president of the Saints and Sinners club, said their organization was extremely excited about being able to help out all of this year’s applicants.

“That’s what the Saints and Sinners is all about,” he said.