Community Involvement Ideas and Organizations | National Restaurant Association

Information on Community Organizations

Idea File

		Fight hunger • Donate prepared food to a shelter or food bank • Raise funds or make cash donations to anti-hunger organizations • Host a celebrity wait-a-thon. Get local leaders to wait on tables for an evening and donate their tips to anti-hunger groups. Give a portion of your proceeds as well. • Supply meals for charitable organizations' meetings. Help youth • Host banquet or award ceremonies for a youth group or an organization devoted to youth development • Offer scholarships to students Improve health • Sponsor a March of Dimes walk-a-thon. Provide food to walkers participating in the event Improve your community • Sponsor a recycling program • Host or sponsor a neighborhood block party • Start an association of neighborhood businesses dedicated to crime prevention • Donate food, water and supplies to victims of disaster

Get ideas
See what other restaurateurs are doing in their communities: Check out the national finalists for the Restaurant Neighbor Award.

Organizations
The following national groups, as well as numerous others not listed, offer opportunities for restaurateurs to get involved. Visit their Web sites for more information.

Feeding America (www.feedingamerica.org). The nation's largest hunger-relief organization (formerly known as America's Second Harvest) boasts a network of more than 200 food banks and food-rescue programs. They have a special Web site for restaurateurs who want to donate food.

Share Our Strength (www.strength.org). Thousands of culinary and restaurant professionals who organize anti-hunger events, teach cooking and nutrition classes to low-income families, and serve as anti-hunger advocates.

ProStart (prostart.restaurant.org)
An educational partnership of the National Restaurant Association and the American Hotel & Lodging Association to create a nationwide system of high school hospitality courses linked with mentored worksite experiences.

America's Promise (www.americaspromise.org)
The nation's leading youth development organization dedicated to ensuring that all children have the five promises to succeed in life; a healthy start, a safe place, an effective education, a caring adult and an opportunity to serve. America's Promise mobilizes businesses to help kids achieve the five promises.

American Red Cross (www.redcross.org)
The American Red Cross is a prominant international presence that provides disaster relief, communication between military personnel and thier families, blood, plasma and tissue donations, CPR training, and health education services.