Minnesota’s Utepils Brewing donates $10,000 to help homeless veterans

On this Veterans Day, Utepils Brewing will present the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V) a check in the amount of $10,870.30 to support the nonprofits’ efforts in ending homelessness among Minnesota veterans and their families.

Using the final proceeds that were generated from Utepils’ summer-long beer campaign B.R.D. (Beer. Ready. to Drink!), the brewery hopes to spread awareness about this growing issue and encourage the community to work together and help give back to local veterans.

Since 1990, MAC-V continues to provide housing and employment programs, as well as legal services to aid veterans and their families who are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless throughout the state.

“MAC-V helps thousands of veterans each year through assistance programs that support them as they transition back from active combat,” said Dan Justesen, president at Utepils. “Our goal is to help them grow this number and expand their services to support veterans living with disabilities, as well as their families through campaigns like B.R.D. and social awareness.”

In honor of this year’s Veteran’s Day celebration, Utepils is hosting a special ceremony at 225 Thomas Ave N. in the Harrison neighborhood of Minneapolis, where they will present MAC-V with the proceeds from their first annual B.R.D. campaign. The brewery invites the general public and local veterans to attend the celebration to say thank you and enjoy a special $4 discount on beers from 3-10 p.m.

Attending this year’s event will be Veteran John Kriesel, who will be at the brewery selling and signing copies of his book Still Standing: The Story of SSG John Kriesel. Also in attendance will be RPG Coffee & “Brew Gooders” who will be in the taproom creating care packages for deployed Minnesota troops.

“Positive change begins with us,” Justesen continued. “By working together, we can honor our veterans and provide them with the resources they deserve to find employment and become contributing members of the community. It’s our time to give back to them.”