Parkside Tap House brings back their Friendsgiving fundraiser

the second annual Friendsgiving fundraiser at Parkside Tap House

November and December have always been special months for the team at Upgraded Living. Chico finally welcomes chillier temperatures, beautiful changing hues throughout our tree-lined streets, and pumpkin added into every possible food group. Though there’s no shortage of reasons to love this time of year—our favorite is the spirit that always seems to arrive with the season.

Whether by happenstance or the general nature of the holidays, people tend to embody their most giving and selfless selves; through it, we’ve seen the community come together to do incredible things. In 2018, a number of the restaurants in Downtown Chico came together to donate a portion of their sales each Wednesday to help victims of the Camp Fire. In 2019, Parkside Tap House hosted their first Friendsgiving to benefit families who were struggling to put food on their tables. This year, Parkside is once again looking to bring the community together and continue the tradition with the return of their Friendsgiving event celebrating the spirit of giving.

On Thursday, November 18th, Parkside will host their second annual Friendsgiving dinner at 115 West 3rd Street in Downtown Chico. The perfect time to celebrate the season with friends and family alike, the Thanksgiving dinner will benefit struggling veterans, a group which has particular difficulty during this time of year.

“The community has been incredible in supporting Parkside since we opened over four years ago, and we want to take the opportunity to give back once again.” Josh Marks, co-owner of Parkside said, “During the aftermath of the Camp Fire, Downtown Chico came together to raise money for those who needed it most, and we were really able to make a difference. It was just one piece of the massive community effort, but it was humbling to be a part of it. In 2019, our first Friendsgiving raised a considerable amount to help put food on the table throughout our community. Though we weren’t able to have an event in 2020, due to dining restrictions, we’re looking to make up for it with our second Friendsgiving this year.”

Josh Snider, also co-owner of Parkside, continued, “It’s been incredible to have had a hand in helping make a difference in our community, and this cause is one that deserves special attention. The holidays are not easy for many, and it’s often difficult to find the support necessary to make it through. We hope this fundraiser helps those support systems continue to do the incredible work they do year-round in keeping our veterans safe and healthy.”

Bill Buxton, Parkside’s general manager, finished, “We feel a certain level of responsibility here. We have the space to bring a large group together and the ability to affect change on a local level. If we were in need, we would certainly hope others would be willing to do the same for us. The three of us are looking at this as an opportunity for Parkside to continue an annual tradition rooted in philanthropy and to benefit a group that has sacrificed so much to give us the freedoms we often take for granted. Our community has been so giving over the years, and we want to give back.”

Parkside’s Friendsgiving dinner will be limited in capacity and will be a private event. Money raised by the dinner will be matched by a number of sponsors and vendors, further amplifying the efforts of Parkside and those attending the dinner. The money raised will go directly to assisting veterans in need throughout our commuity.

To purchase tickets for the event, visit http://events.orderparkside.com