In its 23rd year, the Interfaith Council for Social Service’s restaurant fundraising event Tuesday drew its largest crowd of participants yet.
This year 105 businesses participated in the “Restaurants Sharing Ten Percent” event, an increase from previous years, said John Dorward, associate director of the IFC.
The event, known as RSVVP, helps raise funds for the council’s food pantry and community kitchen by taking 10 percent of the participating restaurants’ proceeds during the day of the event.
“The restaurant owners are very aware that a lot of people are hungry,” Dorward said. “More signed up this year than last year.”
And in the face of increased demand and less outside funding, Dorward said events like RSVVP have become increasingly important for the organization.
“The government programs that used to be out there are getting smaller or going away,” he said.
This year, IFC hoped to reach its highest goal yet by raising $25,000 in donations.
But they won’t know the total amount raised until all restaurants send in their donations, which could take months, Dorward said.
George Ash, co-owner of Buns Burgers and Fries, said he normally doesn’t make donations, but decided to make an exception.