Frothy Beard’s “blind” dinner experience raises funds and awareness for the Assoc. for the Blind & Visually Impaired
by Lorne Chambers | Editor
Frothy Beard Brewing Company has always done a lot for the community and for local charities. But last November, the West Ashley-based brewery set out to create a new way to work with the local non-profits that the partnered with. Operations Manager Michael Biondi said that in the past, they would do one event with a charity, and he wanted to create a lasting relationship and build several events around the organization’s causes.
“I put out a call for interviews with any group that would be willing to work with us over a two-month time frame where we focus weekly on events to create the biggest impact and bring unique experiences to our fanbase and the community,” he says.
According to Biondi, the response was truly heartwarming, with more than 40 groups expressing interest. After careful consideration, Frothy Beard decided to partner with the Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired of South Carolina (ABVI). With their office just around the corner from the brewery on Carriage Lane in West Ashley, they have collaborated to create several weeks worth of events kicking off in June. These events are not just about raising funds and awareness, but also about fostering a sense of community and understanding.
“I’m excited to work with them to bring some fun events that showcase what they do and the different things we who are sight privileged probably never thought about before,” says Biondi.”
“Frothy Beard does a really good job of supporting the community. So, when the conversation started about us being one of their non-profit partners, it kind of grew from there,” says ABVI President and CEO Courtney Plotner.
Biondi says working with ABVI has “opened up his eyes” (pun intended) to the visually impaired community and how life is much different from that of a sighted person. As a result, he has implemented changes at his establishment.
According to Plotner, ABVI has been working on training the brewery’s staff on how to assist people with vision impairments that come into their establishment.
“We have wheelchair accessibility at our facilities, but I never thought about a lot of the other issues that people face in the community,” admits Bionodi “Over discussions with [ABVI], I learned how we could be more accommodating to visually impaired individuals and I learned a lot.”
During June and July, Frothy Beard will host a handful of activities designed to create awareness and raise funds for ABVI, including two “Feast of the Senses: Blind Dinner Experiences” where guests will experience a meal without relying on their vision. The first one will be held on Wednesday, June 12, and the second on Wednesday, July 17. Each will have two seatings, 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $60 and include dinner, dessert, and a flight of beer (gratuity is included).
“Without giving too many details that will be spoilers for the evening fun … guests will experience the evening by highlighting their other senses as if they were sightless, from interacting with others, trying to navigate their meal and beverages and enjoying the evening,” says Biondi. “We will serve each person their meal and give directions at each interaction but then it is up to the participant to figure the rest out. I think that each person will really enjoy the experience in itself and learn a lot as the evening goes on.”
Other Frothy Beard events involving ABVI are a special Trivia Night, featuring a round of questions based on ABVI’s Mission on Thursday, June 6, a “Blind” Yoga with Lowcountry Power Yoga on Saturday, June 22; and a Field Day, where teams of four will compete in a series of challenges on Sunday, July 7.
Plotner says more than anything she hopes that these events help people better appreciate the challenges people with vision loss deal with on a daily basis, but also have a better understanding that, while it’s challenging, it’s not the end of your life.
“I think as a society we kind of take aging, vision loss, and the challenges that come with it—isolation, lower quality of life—for granted. We just Accept it is as a function of aging rather than taking it head one,” says Plotner. “Bindness can affect anyone regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic standing.”
Frothy Beard Brewing Company is located at 1401 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. Suite 1. For more information, call (843)-872-1075 or visit www.frotheybeard.com. The Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired of South Carolina is located at 1 Carriage Lane, Building A. For more information, call (843) 723-6915 or visit www.abvisc.org.
