Please join us for an evening cocktail party at the private residence of our hosts, Michael Chetcuti and Kyle Evans, in support of 5Loaves2Fish.

5Loaves2FishNMI is an outreach group that promotes social justice by providing nourishing meals, infused with love, to those experiencing food insecurity and homelessness. The organization has plans to expand their current commercial church basement kitchen into a workspace with more room for their incredible volunteers, upgraded equipment, increased functionality, and ability to meet rising demand. Funds from the event will be put towards the kitchen renovation costs.

Locally sourced and seasonally inspired heavy appetizers will be provided by (S2S) Sugar 2 Salt Chef/Owners, Stephanie Wiitala and Jonathan Dayton. Beverages will be provided by Baia Estate Leelanau and Arbor Brewing. 270 degree sunset views over the Manitou Passage will be provided by Mother Nature.

We hope you'll join us as we celebrate the best Leelanau has to offer, all for a good cause.

About the Michael Chetcuti Foundation:

The Michael Chetcuti Foundation is a 501c3 which hosts and sponsors events for the sole purpose of collecting donations which in turn are contributed to Northern Michigan and South Florida charities in need. The Foundation has an emphasis on the LGBTQ+ and other underserved communities. The Foundation also produces events that promote visibility, awareness and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community. 

About 5Loaves2Fish:

5Loaves2Fish was founded by Michelle and Bill White. Michelle tells how it came to be. “I met Melissa in 2017. She came to my Art and Soul North table at Central United Methodist Church every week. We became friends and I learned how much she cares for the people in her community, particularly her friends on the street. She knows that life. She has been there.

In March, 2020 when everything shut down due to Covid-19, many of the services available to our outreach folds started to dwindle. Melissa called me in a panic, saying ‘We need to feed our people.’ We started cooking, loaded up the car, and went to meet Melissa. We met in parking lots and passed the food to her to deliver. She knew where to go. It is because of Melissa that 5Loaves2Fish is here. Never underestimate the power of love! Thank you Melissa.”

We soon learned that many in our community are often hungry. Forty percent of the population of Leelanau County battles hunger or food insecurity on a regular basis. A small group of dedicated volunteers and supporters quickly stepped in to help – and they have not stopped.

Jane Lippert, Community Outreach Coordinator at Central United Methodist Church in Traverse City, helped 5Loaves2FishNMI to reach the right people. Her church has several programs to serve the region’s vulnerable population.

Lippert told the Leelanau Ticker, “I knew we needed someone to help feed the community on Monday nights, and in came Michelle, a dreamer with the ability to make this come true. Her passion comes first, and then she finds the mechanics.”

Lippert adds that of those they are currently serving meals to in the greater Grand Traverse region, approximately two-thirds are without housing, and one-third have housing but – because of financial insecurity and other factors such as depression – “any help they can get with meals is good.”

No questions are asked of anyone. As Michelle says, “The big thing for us is to maintain dignity. You are in a circumstance. I don’t need to know your circumstances. I just want to be there to help you. I don’t care what your problem is.”