By Chris Hagan
Review Staff Writer
The day-to-day operations of a police department don’t have much in common with a church or a brewery.
But in Lake Orion they’re similar in what they stand for and what mark they try to leave on the community.
It’s the similarity in community improvement that sparked an idea within Lake Orion United Methodist (LOUMC) Pastor John Ball to partner his church with the Lake Orion Police Department and 51 North Brewing for an all-day festival.
Clergy, Cops, and Beer will take place on July 2. It’s a celebration of engrained local organizations but more importantly it’s a fundraiser to support several initiatives, from aiding underprivileged kids with special needs to supplying equipment for those with special needs.
“The whole heart and the passion of this is that it doesn’t benefit our three organizations and this why we share a similar ethos together,” Ball said. “Because we’re intentional about making things happen and really give back to the community and really make a difference.”
The festival started out as a small bash at the brewery but with the help of their sponsors like Hollywood Market, Kroger, Steve Lynch from All State, Lakes Community Credit Union, Steve Drakos, and Laidler and Zielinksi Attorney’s at Law, it quickly gained momentum and grew into something much larger than initially predicted for an inaugural event.
A small portion of Broadway to Shadbolt will be shut down so attendees can enjoy music, barbecue, and of course, beer. Ball along with a planning committee have lined up a host of bands playing from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. There will be a pig roast and tents set up for vendors and family activities.
LOPD Police Chief Jerry Narsh is hoping the festival will draw a large number people, close to 1,000, to downtown. He’s hoping that with a strong attendance, visitors and residents will be able to see what sort of community projects the police department and the other two organizations support.
Narsh said he’s excited to share with the public about the many projects LOPD coordinates like their Cops who Care and Kids and Cops programs which benefits underprivileged children and residents in the Lake Orion area.
“I Googled this type of event and there was nobody, even nationally, partnering with a church, a police agency, and a brewery; not that it’s a common thing, but it’s a unique pairing of three organizations that independently provide for their community,” he said
51 North Brewing’s brewmaster, Adam Beratta is working on a special beer for the event and owner Don Gindhart is looking to raise funds for their partnering charity, The Daisy Project, an organization that helps procure equipment for people with special needs.
“We want to be an inspirational opportunity for the community to see what happens when different organizations that are a part of Lake Orion come together to make something happen,” Ball said. “Our hope and goal is that we’re able to make a bigger difference in our community as we serve various people who continue to be on the fringe so people who are impoverished, people with disabilities, people who are needed extra assistance that we’re able to provide not only funds but services to take of those needs.”
Clergy, Cops and Beer is part of Lake Orion’s American Summer series and more information can be found by searching the event’s name on Facebook or going to loamericansummer.com