By Lindell John Kay
SECOND NATURE:
CHARITY WORK COMES NATURALLY AT ROCKY MOUNT MILLS
C
harity work is second nature the 5K runs. Some people that live in to the Rocky Mount Mills, its the area have never been to Battle Park. parent company and the nearly On the run, they go through the park. one dozen breweries and restaurants Hopefully, they'll see how nice it is and housed on its campus. The Mills is return for another visit.” Later this year, the Mills will again nestled on the edge of downtown Rocky Mount on the Tar River next to Battle sponsor the Beans and Brews for Rocky Park — the perfect location to impact the Mount Meals on Wheels. The event hosts community, said Evan Covington Chavez, teams cooking chili paired with unique craft beers. Participants also get a chance development manager for the Mills. “We're here for the long haul,” Chavez to chat with the brewers to learn more said, adding that the Mills' owners Capitol about their craft beers. The event raises Broadcasting Co. is interested in not just money to help Meals on Wheels feed the refurbishing buildings, but improving the city's homebound seniors. The breweries often get in on the action entire community. To that end, the Mills sponsors several as well. Koi Pond Brewing Co. and On the fundraiser events throughout the year. Square recently held a fundraiser for the An event that's proven popular is a 5K Friends of the Braswell Memorial Library run that takes participants through Battle at the Mills. Koi Pond Manager Josh Parvin said it's Park. “We want to be part of the community,” all about community. A Rocky Mount native, Parvin Chavez said. “That's the great thing about 18 | Carolina Brew Scene | Summer 2018
remembers going to the library as a child. “As a kid I enjoyed Braswell,” Parvin said. “We're happy to be able to give back.” The fundraiser — with beer and wine tasting and live music — will allow the library to bring in more authors for meet and greets like the events guest speaker Adrian Harrold Wood, a Rocky Mount native, writer and owner of the blog Tales of an Educated Debutante. Due to the money raised, the library was able to bring in Jacqueline Ogburn, author of “The Unicorn in the Barn.” Carolyn Patton, secretary of Friends of the Library, said Koi Pond was a wonderful fundraising partner. A big event held earlier this year spotlighting the Mills' willingness to contribute to the community was a concert to raise money for a documentary film about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivering his famous “I Have a
