Pro Pig creates ‘meal tickets’ with Waterbury Area Food Shelf patrons

January 6, 2021  |  By Dani Kehlmann

To the Community: 

During the fall of 2020, Chef Zach Smejkal approached me with an incredibly generous idea. He planned to start a program at the Pro Pig Brewery wherein employees could donate a specific amount of their pay each month to a community pot. This money would then turn into “meal tickets” which act as gift certificates for a dine-in or takeout meal from the brewery. Not only were the owners of the restaurant on board with Zach’s idea, but they also agreed to have the company match donations, effectively doubling the available gifts!

Since the program started, the Waterbury Area Food Shelf has received 174 meal tickets to provide to clients. These meal tickets are good for one plate of pork, chicken, or a vegetable and side of rice and beans. Not only is this an incredible gesture of goodwill helping to feed our neighbors, but it also allows folks in the community to patronize local businesses and just take a break from cooking for themselves for one night as we all deserve to do.

The food shelf thrives with help from our community, and it’s especially heartwarming during a time when restaurants are being hard-hit financially from the pandemic. 

It is our hope that folks who are able to patronize and support Pro Pig Brewery feel compelled to do so, not only because of their delicious food but also because of the good they do in our town.

Dani Kehlmann, director

Waterbury Area Food Shelf