All summer long, American families have been firing up their grills, enjoying each other’s company and the season’s great flavors. And the fun isn’t over yet.

This Labor Day weekend, volunteers in the Des Moines area will display their grilling prowess and big hearts during the inaugural Hy-Vee Charity BratFest presented by Johnsonville. Brats are the featured item for sale, with 100 percent of the proceeds throughout the weekend going to help kids through Variety — the Children’s Charity of Iowa. The community is invited to attend and help raise money for the kids. Whether it’s making sure a child has safe transportation to counseling or that a premature baby is given a fighting chance at life, this event will truly make a difference.

The Hy-Vee Charity BratFest presented by Johnsonville will begin on Thursday, Aug. 28, and Friday, Aug. 29, at Hy-Vee’s Conference Center, 5820 Westown Parkway, and will continue through Labor Day weekend (Aug. 30 through Sept. 1) at all Des Moines-area Hy-Vee stores. On these days, volunteers will grill and serve fresh brats from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Variety’s mission has been helping children in need for more than three decades, and we’re thrilled to have the support of strong charitable donors like Hy-Vee and Johnsonville,” said Sheri McMichael, executive director of Variety — The Children’s Charity of Iowa. “Funds raised during this event will directly benefit the lives of children in need right here in our community. We appreciate everyone participating and enjoying a brat in honor of these children.”

Variety’s mission is to benefit children, and the organization does so by providing funding for a range of projects. Whether it’s building emergency shelters for abused or neglected youth, or supporting programs to help keep kids off drugs, Variety is committed to helping children in our Iowa communities.

“We share Variety’s commitment to benefitting children, so it’s only natural that we’d be a part of an event dedicated to supporting this organization,” said Ric Jurgens, Hy-Vee CEO. “This is a fun way for the whole area to come together and help kids across Iowa.”

Hy-Vee Charity BratFest presented by Johnsonville

Aug. 28 – Aug. 29, 2008

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Hy-Vee Conference Center, 5820 Westown Parkway

Aug. 30 – Sept. 1, 2008

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

West Des Moines Hy-Vee Store, 1725 Jordan Creek Parkway

Johnsonville brats also served at all other Des Moines-area Hy-Vee locations.