Taste of East Moline set to help community

A new event is in the works to help raise money for East Moline programs and groups and to raise awareness of the community’s restaurants and businesses. The inaugural Taste of East Moline fundraiser is set for 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at the Rust Belt, 533 12th Ave., East Moline. Proceeds from the event […]

A new event is in the works to help raise money for East Moline programs and groups and to raise awareness of the community’s restaurants and businesses. The inaugural Taste of East Moline fundraiser is set for 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at the Rust Belt, 533 12th Ave., East Moline.

Proceeds from the event will support the grant-making efforts of the East Moline Community Fund (EMCF) – a nonprofit group formed to help charitable organizations and the East Moline community. Last year, EMCF gave out $17,050 in grants to groups and programs. Recipients have included Spring Forward Learning Center for education programs; Habitat for Humanity for home repairs in East Moline; Two Rivers YMCA for mentoring programs; and East Moline Main Street for tables and benches at a park. Jennifer von Kaenel, an EMCF board member, hopes the new Taste of East Moline fundraiser will bring in enough money so the EMCF can help even more groups in the future. “We’re getting a great response from the community,” she said. “This is also a great opportunity to highlight East Moline businesses.” EMCF hopes to raise about $10,000 in this first-time fundraiser, and increase that amount in future Taste of East Moline events, Ms. von Kaenel added. Taste of East Moline will bring together several restaurants to offer small servings of favorite items to attendees. Admission will be $25. One of the businesses participating will be The Combine, a Bass Street Restaurant, located at 910 Bend Blvd., East Moline. “It’s just a natural to take part in this. You just have to be part of it,” said Jeff Harrop, managing partner at the restaurant. “You really can’t get any better publicity than participating.” As of late March, a total of 10 businesses had signed up to be part of the fundraiser. In addition to the Combine, other participants include: Happy Joe’s, Jewel-Osco, Junior’s Sports Bar, Midwest Ale Works, Olde Town Bakery, Revive Cafe, Rudy’s Tacos, Saint Giuseppe’s Pizza and The Palace.  Ms. von Kaenel expects more restaurants and businesses to sign up for the event in the coming days. In addition to getting to taste samples of local eateries, the event is expected to feature entertainment by Bobby Ray Bunch as well as a 50/50 raffle, a wine pull (for an extra $10 fee) and will offer a cash bar. East Moline Glass is the presenting sponsor for “Taste of East Moline.” Sponsorships still are available. For more information on the EMCF and Taste of East Moline, go to www.eastmolinecf.org.