Neighborhood
Gallery 303: God's Kitchen Gift & Bowl Painting Studio ribbon cutting with Mayor Heartwell January 6th at 12pm
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Downtown Grand Rapids Welcomes Gallery 303
What: Grand Opening of Gallery 303 - God's Kitchen Gift & Bowl Painting Studio
Ribbon Cutting officiated by Mayor George Heartwell
When: Friday, January 6, 2012
12 noon
Where: 303 South Division, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
The community is invited to a ribbon cutting Friday, January 6, to celebrate the Grand Opening of Gallery 303 – God’s Kitchen Gift & Bowl Painting Studio, with Mayor George Heartwell officiating.
Once just a door to an underused reception area, Gallery 303 now sports a handsome boutique storefront
that invites the community to stop in and create ceramic artwork in a beautiful setting. People can make
or purchase pottery, or simply view the pottery artwork for sale, as well as the paintings of local artists on
the bright-colored walls. Plan a pottery-making party, or stop in at noon (people are invited to bring their
lunch in!). Other complementary accessories and gifts are also available with all proceeds going to help
feed the hungry through God’s Kitchen, a program of Catholic Charities West Michigan (CCWM).
The Grand Opening of Gallery 303 corresponds to launching the reminder for the popular “Soup’s on for
All,” with the 14th annual fundraising event scheduled for January 23, 2012 benefitting God’s Kitchen.
Through God’s Kitchen, CCWM supports two drop-in meal sites, several outreach sites, food pantries and
delivery of meals to the homebound. At the fundraising event, attendees receive a special take-home
soup bowl as a reminder of the hunger in the community.
The Gallery exists, in part, after Catholic Charities received one of the first Encore! Grants to provide
skilled volunteer opportunities for people age 50+. The Encore! Grants are a collaboration between the
Grand Rapids Community Foundation and Heart of West Michigan United Way. Gallery Manager Julie
Tamblin lead the storefront transformation thanks to numerous volunteers, notably contractor Bill
Crothers, all willing to find a way to create an exciting space to support CCWM’s mission to feed the
hungry with dignity and respect.
Deborah J. Nykamp, President/CEO of Catholic Charities West Michigan, expressed the following:
"We thank the Grand Rapids Community Foundation and our local United Way for their support of Gallery
303. The funds raised by the Gallery support the ever growing need of feeding the hungry in our
community." In 2011, CCWM served 20,000 clients, 90% of whom were not Catholic. Additionally, the
food programs of God’s Kitchen served over 200,000 meals. The community is invited to come create!
Gallery Hours: Tue. – Sat. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Phone: (616) 224-1294 / www.ccwestmi.org
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