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shared that “ Guinness has donated more than 16,000 loaves of bread and an additional donation was received for their curbside beer sales in the amount of $ 35,000 . Most recently , they generously pledged to donate $ 250,000 to support both Phase 2 of our COVID-19 Food Access Response Plan and our culinary workforce development program , FoodWorks — both of which address communities disproportionately affected by hunger .” These efforts can help the food bank — just one of the Guinness program ’ s beneficiaries — to “ strategically expand our food access efforts to these most-struggling populations ,” Del Guercio added .
Clearly these funds are making an impact . Today , visitors can support Guinness in its work to give back by raising a toast with its new “ See Us ” beer . This brew is first to debut in the brewery ’ s Allyship Through Collaboration Series , which also is part of the community fund and is led by Brewmaster Peter Wiens and Head Brewer Hollie Stephenson . All proceeds of this specialty beer will benefit the Job Opportunities Task Force .
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A HOTEL OFFERING HELP Guinness has set an admirable example but , true to the spirit of Baltimore , it ’ s not the only company giving back . Even as some face their own losses , the city ’ s hotels , restaurants , attractions and other entities continue to support the community .
For instance , Hotel Revival — a boutique hotel in Mount Vernon featuring 107 guest rooms , event space and restaurants — donated its first-floor restaurant space to local small food businesses that were forced to close down brick-and-mortar locations . The hotel was formerly a private mansion owned by an art enthusiast , so it makes sense that it would support the artisans and business owners who contribute to the community now .
If you stopped into the hotel earlier in the year , breezing past artwork showcased throughout the space ( including a dramatic floor-to-ceiling
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mural in the lobby ), you may have ordered from The Urban Oyster , the first female- and Black-owned oyster bar in Maryland , which unfortunately closed its location in Locust Point in summer 2020 .
Hotel Revival also offered free rooms to military personnel , police officers and firefighters from the beginning of the pandemic through summer 2020 in addition to launching a social impact plan to elevate and support businesses owned by people of color . One such partnership spearheaded by the hotel ’ s first-ever director of culture and impact , Jason Bass , is the hotel ’ s decision to purchase a year ’ s supply of toilet paper from Lor Tush , a Black- and women-owned toilet paper company in Baltimore .
Plus , Lor Tush , whose owners grew up in West Baltimore , has done some good of its own . Remember when finding toilet paper in the store was almost as exciting as finding ng actual gold ? During the pandemic , the company — which sells a sustainable product made of bamboo — donated thousands of rolls of toilet paper to the people of Baltimore City .
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Lor Tush is a Black- and women-owned toilet paper company in Baltimore producing a sustainable product made of bamboo . |
JASON VARNEY |