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Aug 24, 2023

Raven Café holds T

A local café wants to turn the loss of the Pere Marquette Rail Bridge into something positive by holding a fundraiser for a youth organization. Raven Café co-owner Jody Parmann has fond memories of

A local café wants to turn the loss of the Pere Marquette Rail Bridge into something positive by holding a fundraiser for a youth organization.

Raven Café co-owner Jody Parmann has fond memories of the Pere Marquette Rail Bridge. She remembers when she was younger, she would take her niece and nephew to the bridge and eat ice cream at its base. With news of the bridge coming down this month, Parmann knew she wanted to take her mourning and turn it into something to benefit the community.

“I'm mourning the fact that the bridge is coming down and I know others are too," Parmann said. "Making art is my way of coping."

Parmann will be selling shirts with a custom design of the Pere Marquette Rail Bridge. All of the profit will be donated to Harbor for Youth, a nonprofit that supports and provides emergency housing to runaway and homeless youth in St. Clair County. Parmann chose the Harbor for Youth because it helped her family when she was younger.

"I thought doing something like this would soften the blow for people who feel sad about losing the bridge and have it benefit a local organization that helps local youth in the process," Parmann said.

Pre-orders for the shirts are available until May 4. Most sizes will cost $25 and sizes XXL will cost $30. Pre-orders can be made at the Raven Cafe's website. People will be able to pick up their orders at the Raven between May 15 and May 30.

The Raven Cafe is located at 932 Military St. in Port Huron.

Sally Currie, the grants coordinator for Harbor for Youth, said she is grateful that Parmann chose the organization to be the recipient of the fundraiser. Additionally, Currie said the bridge is a local landmark and the river is one place where homeless and runaway youth can be found.

"The bridge has a lot of sentimental emotions attached to it," Currie said. "The Raven and the bridge are very near to my heart. I'm excited for the fundraiser."

In the future, Currie said Harbor for Youth may start doing outreach program pop up services in the area near the Pere Marquette Rail Bridge to engage with runaway or homeless youth.

The Pere Marquette Rail Bridge is visible from the Raven Cafe's balcony. Parmann said it's sad to see the bridge get shorter and shorter as the days pass.

"Our skyline is changing, our view is changing," Parmann said. "But it's nice to have the Raven to let me help my community."

Parmann said she wants to complete the fundraiser before school gets out for summer. She said summertime is very busy for the Raven and she doesn't want her staff to worry about the t-shirts as well as their day-to-day activities.

The Port Huron Yacht Club, which owns the bridge and the property it is on, is removing the bridge to make way for future development.

Contact McKenna Golat at [email protected] or (810) 292-0122.