The 28th annual Hastings Tastings event on Monday evening, March 24, brought together businesses, volunteers, donors, and community members to fight hunger in the Hastings area. Together, $28,555 was raised for the Market Food Shelf at Hastings Family Service as attendees sampled delicious offerings from area restaurants and establishments. The amount raised will be proportionately matched by MN FoodShare, making an even greater impact on hunger in the community.
Sixteen food and drink establishments shared their culinary talents, staff time, and delicious tastings with about 250 guests. This year’s participants were Alexis Bailly Vineyard, American Legion Post #47, Bimi Thai Restaurant, Carbone’s Pizzeria, Cub, Culver’s, El Mexican Restaurant, Geek Haven Coffee, Hastings Public House, Missi’s Sip and Savor, Perkins, Pizza Hut, Schoolhouse Scoop, Spiral Brewery, Spiral Food Co-op, and Ze’s Diner. Congratulations to Hastings Public House selected as the People’s Choice Award winner by attendees for Best Overall and Best Entrée, Missi’s Sip and Savor for Best Appetizer, Culver’s for Best Dessert, and Bimi Thai Restaurant for Best Beverage.
This year’s Hastings Tastings also kicked off HFS’s 55th anniversary celebration, reflected in the $55 gift of a ticket. HFS Executive Director, Amy Sutton, indicates “Hastings Tastings has been a key fundraiser supporting food assistance in our community, and this year’s support is even more critical as needs continue to rise. With every $55 ticket purchased, HFS can feed two families for more than one week, stretching donations to make the most impact. In 2024, HFS provided food assistance over 20,000 times to individuals and households and we anticipate this growing in 2025.”
Hastings Family Service thanks event sponsors Merchants Bank and Patsy Nesteby of Modern Woodmen Red Wing; St Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church for hosting the event; the HFS Board of Directors for donating the Wall of Wine won by Rita Humbert; Hohenstein Distributing for donating the Bucket of Beer won by Kathy Biscoe; Hastings Public House for providing the linens and the cash bar; Hastings Flower Co for beautiful floral arrangements; Pastor Randy Berg for sharing his talented piano playing; area businesses and individuals who donated to the silent auction; and to all of the volunteers who helped to prepare, set up, tear down, haul items, and worked or attended the event to support HFS.
Every dollar and every pound of food donated through April 6 receives a proportionate match through the MN FoodShare March Campaign. Gifts can be shared online, dropped off at the HFS Donation Center during business hours, or mailed to Hastings Family Service postmarked by April 6.
