Restaurants, suppliers, employees and guests unite to aid those impacted by Hurricane Katrina

(Wilsonville, OR) On October 5, 2005, restaurants across Oregon will band together in a “Dine for America” day, a statewide fundraising effort to support the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and help those affected by Hurricane Katrina and their families.

Participating restaurants from throughout the state—independent operators and national chains of all types—will donate all or part of their sales or proceeds on October 5, make a donation for each guest served, make a donation for each sale of a specific item, or make a donation of a set amount. There will be avenues for customers to contribute directly to the Red Cross as well. Funds raised will go to the hurricane victims and their families via the Red Cross. The effort is being held in conjunction with the National Restaurant Association, which is urging restaurants across the U.S. to participate.

“In 2001, Dine for America-Oregon mobilized more than 550 restaurants and raised more than $300,000 for 9/11 victims.” said Oregon Restaurant Association President and CEO Michael McCallum. “Today we are calling on Oregon’s restaurant and hospitality industry to support disaster relief efforts for the Gulf Coast, and I believe we will exceed that goal with this effort. Restaurants are the cornerstone of local communities, and we especially share in the desire to support our fellow restaurateurs and hospitality businesses in the restaurant-rich communities of the U.S. gulf coast region who have been so dramatically impacted.”

The Association has begun posting information, daily updates, and signup forms on their web site at www.ora.org. Restaurants interested in participating can visit the web site or call the Oregon Restaurant Association at 503-682-4422 (Portland) or 800-462-0619.

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