Food Bank benefits but look who is (not) helping.

Saw a brief peice in the Coastland Times telling about a fund raising event for the Food Bank of the Albemarle. The 2008 Dine Out to Help event takes place on June 10th. Local restaurants across the Albemarle region will donate 10% of their income to the support the Food Bank's efforts to fight hunger in the region. The fight gets harder as food prices soar. Across the county food banks are facing increases in users and decreases in food stocks. Agencies like our local Food for Thought program are seeing costs rise and supplies sink as they leverage food bank resources to provide weekend meals to school age kids in the county.
OK there's the plug. Go eat out at one of these restaurants on the 10th.

Arby's

Awful Arthur's Oyster Bar

Bluewater Culinary Services

Carolina Seafood Buffet

Great American Grill at the Hilton Garden Inn

Jolly Roger Restaurant

KFC of the Outer Banks

Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant & Tavern

Kill Devil Grill

Mako Mike's Restaurant

McDonald's Restaurant, Kill Devil Hills

McDonald's Restaurant, Kitty Hawk

McDonald's Restaurant, Manteo

Outer Banks Port O' Call Restaurant

Penguin Isle Soundside Grill & Bar

Peppercorns Restaurant and Lounge

Sam & Omie's Restaurant

Taco Bell

The Left Bank at the Sanderling Inn

The Lifesaving Station at the Sanderling Inn

The Pit Surf Shop & Boardrider Grill

Nice list, it contains a lot of the usual suspects but what struck me was the lack of local chains. I have written a bit about the role of locally owned businesses in supporting local charties and building local wealth. This simple example really brought it home. Notice who is not on the list, the big chains like Applebys, Hooters and that Aussie wannabe place at the Mall that started the trend. Yes the big burger chains are there but these are all locally owned and operated franchises. The McDonalds folks are out of Elizabeth City and have owned the place since it opened. There are lots of locally owned eateries that aren't on the list but the absence of the chains is just striking. When you look at the regional list you see the same trend.
Yes the chains do support some local projects but they just don't have the same commitment to the full spectrum of local needs. The Food Bank is an important one.
I plan to eat out on June 10th and now I know where I won't be eating. The hard part will be picking just one restaurant for the list of great local spots. Hope I see you there.
Ciao.

VA Pilot - Anonymous Charity.

In todays NC Section the Virginian Pilot follows up on the story of a woman burned in a terrible fire Her courage and determination is a wonderful example of the power of the human spirit. What struck me about the article though was not just her courage but her support structure:

"Cowell spent a year in the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Cincinnati, later spending months at Albemarle Hospital, where she was finally able to see her family. All of her expenses, including her treatments and medicine, have been covered by the Shriners, she said.
They would also later help Cowell with her scoliosis.
Today, she makes an effort to spread the word about all the good the Shriners do; she often speaks to schools and clubs for the Elizabeth City Shrine Club.
'I'll go anywhere to talk about them,' she said.
'Without them,' she added. 'I wouldn't have made it.'"

When I think of the Shriners I think of the funny guys in the St. Patricks Day Parade and the stereotypical drunken conventioneer. with a fez and a buzz. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I am not a shriner or a Mason. I know some and the are probably some folks I know who are members that I am not aware of. They don't wear their affiliation on their sleeve. In fact they practice a motto that the best charity is anonymous charity. I have enormous respect for that.
Not much more to say about this except thanks to any Shriners who read this blog, Thanks for caring and for doing something purposeful about human suffering. You make me laugh and you make me cry.
Ciao