Lansing Wing Festival Funds Cancer Survivor Support Store

Shirley Carter-Powell knows what cancer survivors need because she's been there twice. Her answer? A chicken wing festival that brings a community together and funds real support.

The 12th annual Michigan Chicken Wing Festival drew crowds to Adado Riverfront Park in Lansing this weekend. Families gathered for live entertainment, local vendors, and yes, plenty of wings.

But the real flavor of this event goes far deeper than hot sauce. Every dollar raised supports Against All Odds, the nonprofit Carter-Powell founded to help people walking the same hard road she traveled.

"The Wing Festival is more than just wings," Carter-Powell said. "It's about family coming together, individuals that haven't seen each other in a while. And it's bringing the community together too."

The festival funds Lillian's, a free boutique inside the Lansing Mall. The store offers cancer survivors something simple but crucial: dignity during their toughest days.

Patients can walk in and leave with clothes, hygiene products, and other essentials without opening their wallets. When medical bills pile up and energy runs low, that kind of support changes everything.

The Ripple Effect

Carter-Powell turned her own survival story into a lifeline for others. What started as one woman's determination has become an annual tradition that strengthens the entire Lansing community.

The festival proves that sometimes the best medicine comes from neighbors showing up for each other. Twelve years running, thousands of people have gathered not just to eat, but to ensure cancer survivors know they're not fighting alone.

From festival grounds to mall boutique, this community is rewriting what support looks like.