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Make a Dinner Date for Oct. 5
Participating Restaurants to Share Part of Evening’s Till with Hurricane Survivors
Written by
Amanda Mark
, staff, RedCross.org
Monday, October 03, 2005 — On Oct. 5, diners will leave more than just a tip at more than 16,000 restaurants around the United States.
During this day deemed “Dine for America,” restaurants across the nation, along with the National Restaurant Association, will donate a portion of that day’s proceeds to the American Red Cross in support of Hurricane Katrina and Rita relief efforts.
“The Red Cross has served more than 15 million hot meals and 10 million snacks to survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. At times, we have served 750,000 meals per day, which is roughly equivalent to feeding the population of San Francisco,” said Renita Hosler, a spokesperson for the Red Cross.
Supporting the Red Cross ensures that the organization can provide for the needs of disaster victims, which include emergency food, water and shelter.
Donations from restaurants will vary – some will donate the entire evening’s proceeds and some will donate a certain portion. Others are choosing a meal or dessert’s costs to benefit the hurricane survivors. Additionally, some restaurants will also collect donations from guests and employees.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the generosity of restaurant industry to host this day and help us to continue our mission of feeding, sheltering and caring for survivors of the recent hurricanes,” said Hosler.
Brinker International, which includes Chili's Grill & Bar, Romano's Macaroni Grill, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, Maggiano's Little Italy and Corner Bakery Café, will donate all of its profits for the day to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
"This program is the perfect vehicle for the restaurant industry to contribute in a meaningful way to the massive relief efforts undertaken by the American Red Cross," said Doug Brooks, Brinker's chairman and chief executive officer. "We urge everyone to make eating at a participating restaurant for lunch or dinner on Oct. 5 part of their schedule."
The National Restaurant Association will sponsor this day and is using online invitation service Evite as a mechanism to spread the word.
"Restaurants are often among the first to serve those in need, and never has it been more evident than in the wake of the Gulf Coast hurricanes," said Steven C. Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the National Restaurant Association. "The more who join us at the table [Oct. 5], the more meaningful the impact."
The Dine for America event was created by restaurants and their employees from across the country united in the effort to help those affected by catastrophic national events. The idea began in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, when restaurants from around the country wanted to unify their efforts to help those affected by the terrorist attacks. Restaurants, their employees and guests raised more than $20 million for that cause.
Learn more about this day and participating restaurants at www.dineforamerica.org.
Update: Edit made Oct. 4 for additional clarification.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Midwest ice storms, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
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