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Ben's Big Art Box Community Care Event
May 06, 2024
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Community Care Event in Grand Rapids Honors Former Guest with Annual Fundraiser
Meet Ben Klooster
When the Klooster family heard that a Chick-fil-A® restaurant was opening down the street from their home, they were thrilled. As a family favorite, the Kloosters often walked over to the restaurant for dinner. Ben, the Klooster’s 6-year-old, knew his own order by heart: a Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meal with Chick-fil-A® Nuggets and Waffle Fries.
When Ben was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma (a tumor in his left sinus/orbit area) in November of 2014, Chick-fil-A became one of the only meals he was able to enjoy. Several years later, after a courageous fight with cancer, Ben went into hospice care. There, the only food items he would eat were Chick-fil-A® Nuggets and Waffle Fries.
Upon hearing this, local Owner-Operator Brad Spurlin and his wife Rena created a standing order for Ben that Ben’s parents, Amy and Peter, could pick up at the drive-thru at their convenience, every single day. The restaurant even packaged a cold order of Chick-fil-A Nuggets for the Kloosters on Saturdays, so Ben would have nuggets to eat on Sundays while the restaurant was closed.
Sadly, Ben passed away shortly after being moved into hospice care.
Ben’s Big Art Box
A year later, the Kloosters created Ben’s Big Art Box as a memorial to Ben – and his love for art and creativity. Ben’s Big Art Box honors his memory by collecting and donating art supplies and craft kits to kids at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan each December – Ben’s birth month.
Each year, Ben’s Big Art Box kicks off its annual fundraising event alongside Chick-fil-A Grand Rapids South. In addition, to honor Ben and do something special for the Klooster family, Brad and Rena hosted a Community Care Event, at which they re-named their restaurant’s Play Place after Ben, unveiling a plaque with Ben’s story and photo under a new Play Place sign, “Ben’s Place.”
The restaurant also named Ben’s younger brother, Sam, an honorary Team Member and surprised the family with free Chick-fil-A Nuggets for life, Ben’s favorite.
Chick-fil-A Community Care Events
Since May of 2023, nearly 650 franchised Chick-fil-A restaurants from across the country have scheduled or hosted a Community Care Event in their local community. These events range from physical supply drives to in-restaurant fundraiser nights and are intended to show care to local communities. Formerly known as Spirit Nights, Community Care Events allow for local Owner-Operators to provide care in their communities where they see the most need. Guests can learn about Community Care events near them by visiting their local Chick-fil-A restaurant and via the Chick-fil-A One App.
To learn more about how local Chick-fil-A restaurants are getting involved and giving back to their communities, please visit https://www.chick-fil-a.com/about/giving-back.
Community Care Event in Grand Rapids Honors Former Guest with Annual Fundraiser
Meet Ben Klooster
When the Klooster family heard that a Chick-fil-A® restaurant was opening down the street from their home, they were thrilled. As a family favorite, the Kloosters often walked over to the restaurant for dinner. Ben, the Klooster’s 6-year-old, knew his own order by heart: a Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meal with Chick-fil-A® Nuggets and Waffle Fries.
When Ben was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma (a tumor in his left sinus/orbit area) in November of 2014, Chick-fil-A became one of the only meals he was able to enjoy. Several years later, after a courageous fight with cancer, Ben went into hospice care. There, the only food items he would eat were Chick-fil-A® Nuggets and Waffle Fries.
Upon hearing this, local Owner-Operator Brad Spurlin and his wife Rena created a standing order for Ben that Ben’s parents, Amy and Peter, could pick up at the drive-thru at their convenience, every single day. The restaurant even packaged a cold order of Chick-fil-A Nuggets for the Kloosters on Saturdays, so Ben would have nuggets to eat on Sundays while the restaurant was closed.
Sadly, Ben passed away shortly after being moved into hospice care.
Ben’s Big Art Box
A year later, the Kloosters created Ben’s Big Art Box as a memorial to Ben – and his love for art and creativity. Ben’s Big Art Box honors his memory by collecting and donating art supplies and craft kits to kids at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan each December – Ben’s birth month.
Each year, Ben’s Big Art Box kicks off its annual fundraising event alongside Chick-fil-A Grand Rapids South. In addition, to honor Ben and do something special for the Klooster family, Brad and Rena hosted a Community Care Event, at which they re-named their restaurant’s Play Place after Ben, unveiling a plaque with Ben’s story and photo under a new Play Place sign, “Ben’s Place.”
The restaurant also named Ben’s younger brother, Sam, an honorary Team Member and surprised the family with free Chick-fil-A Nuggets for life, Ben’s favorite.
Chick-fil-A Community Care Events
Since May of 2023, nearly 650 franchised Chick-fil-A restaurants from across the country have scheduled or hosted a Community Care Event in their local community. These events range from physical supply drives to in-restaurant fundraiser nights and are intended to show care to local communities. Formerly known as Spirit Nights, Community Care Events allow for local Owner-Operators to provide care in their communities where they see the most need. Guests can learn about Community Care events near them by visiting their local Chick-fil-A restaurant and via the Chick-fil-A One App.
To learn more about how local Chick-fil-A restaurants are getting involved and giving back to their communities, please visit https://www.chick-fil-a.com/about/giving-back.
