Dale Venturini, President and CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality Association and Anthony Bruneau, General Sales Manager, MS Walker of Rhode Island.

MS Walker of Rhode Island announced the creation of a two-week fundraiser, the 2020 MS Walker Winter Wonder Fund, designed to support the local hospitality community that has been confronted by such hardship this year. The effort kicked off Dec. 21, 2020, with the timing intended to “use the energy of the holiday spirit to fuel a communally driven fund to help serve those that have served all of us,” said Anthony Bruneau, General Sales Manager, MS Walker of Rhode Island. With winter adding further restrictions to dining possibilities, MS Walker made funds available for the “hibernation” months when they are most needed. The fund was comprised of a $2 per case summation of all the industry’s purchases of select products from the company during the last two weeks of the year. The drive resulted in a $10,000 donation to the Rhode Island Hospitality Association’s Employee Relief Fund. “We have all expressed the desire to assist our hospitality community, and when we provided this option that enabled that support, we were humbled by the statewide embracement,” Bruneau said.