Marquette, Mich. – The United Way of Marquette County is pleased to announce a new collaboration with Ore Dock Brewing Company to accept perishable food donations as part of its annual “Can-A-Thon” food drive.
Starting now and continuing through Tuesday, December 2, the brewing company will serve as a drop-off location for fresh, refrigerated, and frozen items—including meat, dairy and eggs—that will be distributed regularly to area food pantries. This is a significant expansion of the traditional non-perishable item collection. Fresh and refrigerated goods are among the most requested items at food assistance programs, yet often harder to collect and distribute.
• Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt) are among the top three items requested by food banks, yet many sites struggle to meet demand.
• Lean protein sources (frozen or refrigerated meats, chicken, eggs) also rank very high on wish-lists.
• Although many donation campaigns focus on shelf-stable items, fresh produce and refrigerated/frozen goods play a critical role in balanced nutrition.
Why this matters:
Food insecurity is more than just “not enough food”; it’s often about not enough nourishing food. Fresh proteins, dairy and eggs provide essential nutrients—such as calcium, vitamin D, potassium and high-quality protein—that are more difficult to obtain when families rely solely on shelf-stable donations. By accepting perishable items, Ore Dock Brewing are helping fulfill a gap in local food access and improving the nutritional
quality of distributions across pantry networks.
How it works:
Participants may drop off perishable items at the taproom at Ore Dock Brewing during regular business hours. United Way staff and volunteers will coordinate with local pantry partners throughout Marquette County to ensure the items are distributed in a timely way, maintaining refrigeration and safe handling protocols. Drop-off runs through December 2.
In addition to traditional canned items, the campaign is asking for donations of:
• Fresh or frozen meat (chicken, turkey, ground beef, etc.)
• Dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt)
• Eggs
Join us
We invite individuals, families, workplaces, civic groups and community partners to take part in this expanded Can-A-Thon. Every donation of perishable food items makes a meaningful difference in someone’s holiday season—and beyond. Donations will be gratefully accepted at Ore Dock Brewing Company and counted toward our cumulative goal of meeting the higher-demand perishable needs in our community.
CONTACT: Andrew Rickauer, Executive Director Amanda Courchaine
United Way of Marquette County 906-235-9689
(906) 226-8171, arickauer@uwmqt.org Ore Dock Brewing
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The United Way of Marquette County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization utilizing community collaborations to provide health, education, and socialservice needs to area residents. More than 21,000 individuals were helped by United Way of Marquette County partner agencies last year—- that is 1 out of every 3 Marquette County residents. For more information, or to donate to the United Way, visit uwmqt.org
