The tantalizing aroma of sizzling burgers permeated Downtown Vero Beach during the seventh annual Burgers and Brews fundraiser to benefit United Against Poverty, as burger enthusiasts were tempted by tasty concoctions created by 10 local chefs.
Chef Leanne Kelleher of the Tides; television personality Chef Sue Torres; Chef Dan Wood, owner/operator of Café 66; and Thomas Miller, Treasure Coast Foodie blogger, were tasked with determining which restaurant deserved the title of Best Burger in Indian River County.
At the conclusion of the heated competition, the judges declared the Grill at CW Willis Family Farms as the winner, after savoring their delectable burger, served on a pretzel bun and topped with peach jam, herb mayonnaise and candied bacon.
Barefoot Café was presented with the People’s Choice Award for its “hot wrap” burger that had just the right amount of American and Swiss cheeses, pickles, onion, bacon, mayonnaise and mustard.
American Icon Brewery, BigShots Golf, Heaton’s Reef, Marsh Landing, Sean Ryan Pub, Southern Social, The Brennity and Wilke’s 14 Bones were the other contestants, adding flair to their burgers with goodies such as blueberry jam, short rib, corned beef, bacon jam, sawmill gravy and brie sauce.
The Heritage Center provided air-conditioned respite for VIP ticket holders before they headed outside to select the next slider on the list.
Outside, there was something for everyone, with food trucks, vendors, a children’s play area, live music, and an Apple Pie Eating Contest won by Ricardo Lopez-Bonilla.
The event was designed to provide families with a fun way to spend the day together while raising funds for and awareness of United Against Poverty’s Membership Grocery, Crisis Stabilization, STEP (Success Training Employment Program) and Education programs, and its myriad other services designed to help lower-income families lift themselves out of poverty.
“Last year, we worked with 8,500 families, and our goal this year is 10,000 families,” said Matt Tanner, UP executive director. He noted that they assist people to get jobs, put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.
“All these important things that we do here, we can’t do without these kinds of fundraising events.”
Tanner explained that many families are being priced out of the community due to the discontinuation of federal COVID benefits, inflation, rising food costs, and skyrocketing mortgage and rents, which has led to an ever-increasing need for their services. Even those fixed-income seniors who once had plans in place to maintain a quality of life are struggling.
“A lot of folks are having to come in, in search of help for the first time in their lives,” said Tanner.
In response, UP has developed two new workforce initiatives to get more people back to work in better-paying jobs: BuildUP and UPSkill.
BuildUP, in partnership with the Treasure Coast Builders Association and the Treasure Coast Manufacturers Association, provides professional training to enable employment in those two industries.
“There’s a huge demand in those areas. These are high-paying jobs with advancement opportunities. We’re at about 20 adults employed within those industries this year through those partnerships,” said Tanner.
The UPSkill Academy will provide the skills training required for current and future local job opportunities. UP will provide access to free credentials and professional certifications so that people will become more eligible for competitive jobs.
Tanner said the UP Center currently offers CPR First Aid certification, Mental Health First Aid Awareness training, and GED and OSHA 10 certification training.
A new Going UP Bus, made possible through an Impact 100 Grant Award, will provide transportation to the UP Center and to on-the-job training at UP employer partners, to people previously unable to access services and opportunities due to a lack of access to transportation.
“If people are looking for better jobs, new jobs, better pay, this is the place to go,” said Tanner, of the UP Center.
For more information, visit upirc.org.
Photos provided
