🌱 Mel Trotter Ministries’ Thanksgiving + Restaurant Week

Happy Thursday, neighbors! Here's everything you need to know going on in Grand Rapids today.

First, today's weather:

Chilly with clouds and sun. High: 45 Low: 34.

Here are the top stories in Grand Rapids today:

1. Mel Trotter Ministries’ free, annual Thanksgiving meal will be returning this year in-person, and officials are expecting to serve more than 1,500 people. Opportunities are available to those who would like to volunteer for the event, and Mel Trotter officials say more sponsorships are needed to cover the cost of the meal. The Thanksgiving Community Meal will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 25, in the ballroom at DeVos Place Convention Center. (mlive.com)
2. Grand Rapids is accepting applications for the new City of Grand Rapids Affordable Housing Fund. The city is looking for members who are strong community advocates with experience in housing, finance, social work, development, or similar work or lived experiences. Officials say applications should be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than the initial deadline of Nov. 19. (Fox17)
3. Soda pop and candy shop franchise, Rocket Fizz, will be opening a pop-up toy store on Black Friday, Nov. 26, through the end of 2021 in the former AT&T store at the Kalamazoo Mall. (GR|MAG)
4. The 12th annual Grand Rapids Restaurant Week will be returning Nov. 5-13 and will feature over 56 different local restaurants. (The Collegiate)
5. JW Marriott Grand Rapids is partnering with a Kentucky bourbon maker to host 'Women Who Whiskey,' a women-focused class on whiskey and distilling. (GR|MAG)

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Today in Grand Rapids:

• Tree Planting Workday - Land Conservancy of West Michigan (10:00 AM)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with another update. If you're feeling these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander. She works as a freelance copywriter for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and as an assistant producer for a live-lit storytelling show in Chicago. She holds a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies from The University of Rhode Island. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.