Looking for an excuse to go out to breakfast, lunch or
dinner?
How about this: Dozens of local restaurants on Dec. 1 will donate
25 or 50 percent of their sales to Food For Thought – Sonoma County
AIDS Food Bank.
The 10th Annual Dining Out for Life fundraiser simply requires that
on that day people eat at one of the 80 participating restaurants
(for a complete list go to www.diningoutforlife.com).
“In one day we hope to raise over $120,000,” said Food For Thought
Executive Director Ron Karp.
“Five-thousand people went out to dinner in support of our agency
last year and we had 68 restaurants participate in 2010. We raised
$107,000. This year we are going from 68 to 80 restaurants, so this
year promises to be our most successful yet,” he said.
Underwood Bar and Bistro in Graton has participated in the event
every year since it opened, according to Bar Manager Jennifer
Warfel.
“We like to do what we can to give back to the community that
supports us,” Warfel said, adding, “I would urge the community at
large to really go out and participate in the Dining Out for Life
because with the holidays, especially, every little bit
helps.”
“I think it’s necessary for all restaurants to do this. It’s a
great cause and a great way to support the community,” said Patrick
Wynhoff, co-owner of a new Sebastopol restaurant called
Forchetta/Bastoni, which is essentially two restaurants and two
kitchens under one roof.
Forchetta serves Italian food and the Bastoni side serves Southeast
Asian street food.
“It’s a great way to bring the community together for a great
cause,” echoed Adam Beers, owner and chef of Hole in the Wall,
another new restaurant in Sebastopol participating in this year’s
benefit for Food For Thought.
Not only are diners dining out for a good cause, they also have a
chance to win prizes by entering a free drawing. First, second and
third prizes are as follows: Two Virgin America Airline tickets, a
Sonoma County wine country weekend valued at $540, and a basket of
Nancy Boy natural bath body and home products valued at $250.
In addition, anyone who donates $25 or more in their raffle
envelope on Dec. 1 will receive a “20% Off Tuesdays” card with
their thank you note. Each participating restaurant will offer a 20
percent discount off the food bill to any table where a diner
presents a “20% Off Tuesdays” card on Tuesday evenings throughout
2012.
Dining Out for Life began more than 20 years ago in Philadelphia as
a way of raising funds for an AIDS service organization, while
honoring the many people who worked in the food and beverage
industry that died of AIDS early in the epidemic, according to
information from Food for Thought.
The program has grown and is successful in 60 other cities in the
United States and Canada. Dining Out For Life raises more than $3
million a year for HIV/AIDS charities, the information
states.
Subaru is the event’s North American sponsor. Major sponsors of
this year’s Sonoma County event are Hansel Subaru in Santa Rosa,
Summit State Bank, Exchange Bank, California Food Connections,
Sonoma West Times & News, the Healdsburg Tribune, the Windsor
Times and Virgin America among others.
Founded in 1988, Food For Thought is a non-profit grassroots agency
dedicated to meeting the nutritional needs of people affected by
HIV/AIDS in Sonoma County. With the help of more than 600
volunteers, Food For Thought provides services to 650 people free
of charge.
The agency offers weekly grocery bags of canned and boxed goods,
fresh produce, high quality protein, vitamins and nutritional
supplements, and healthy snacks, along with frozen meals for those
too ill to cook. Food For Thought also delivers countywide to
clients who are homebound or lack transportation.
