Local Restaurants Partake In 'Dining Out For Life' To Benefit Moveable Feast
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—It's called Dining Out for Life, and if you don't have plans Thursday night you'll have a chance to help a good cause.
Ron Matz reports it's all about good friends, great food and the Baltimore community coming together.
Giovanna Blattermann is in the kitchen. For the fourth year, Cafe Gia will be part of Dining Out for Life, a benefit for Moveable Feast.
"Oh my God, I'm so excited. Anytime you can help anyone else is a true time for us to give to other people. It's a great opportunity for us to help in a small way," Blattermann said.
"This is the 19th year for Dining Out For Life. It's a great event. It's the community coming together. We have about 50 restaurants this year. Folks are doing breakfast, lunch and dinner, giving anywhere from 20 to 50 percent of their food and bar tab to Moveable Feast," said Tom Bonderenko, executive director of Moveable Feast.
Moveable Feast helps thousands of people, including those suffering from AIDS, HIV and other life-threatening diseases. The organization is 23 years old.
"Last year we served over 700,000 meals to more than 3,400 households in Baltimore City, the five surrounding counties and Maryland's Eastern Shore all the way down to Ocean City," Bonderenko said.
They're able to do it with the help of dedicated volunteers.
"The theme for this event is Dine Out and Save A Life," Bonderenko said. "That's exactly what you do. One hundred percent of the proceeds that we receive from these restaurants goes directly back to serving individuals in the community."
Thursday night participating restaurants will donate from 20 to 50 percent of their food and bar tab and many places, like Cafe Gia, are expanding their efforts.
"This is our fourth year, prior to this year we were participating for dinner hours. This year, by overwhelming request from our customers, we will be participating for lunch also. It will be all day long. We will be donating 20 percent of our food and bar tab. It's a fantastic day all the way around," said Gia Blatterman, Cafe Gia.
So Thursday night, enjoy a great meal. Cafe Gia has the gnocchi bolognese ready, so dine out and save a life.
"It's a beautiful fundraiser and I urge everyone, whatever restaurants are participating, go out to eat on Thursday and help," said Giovanna Blattermann. "We've been doing this for four years and we intend to do it for the next 40."
For a complete list of participating restaurants for Dining Out For Life, click here.
