Organizers of a longtime charity effort supporting the homeless are hoping the bad economy won't hinder their efforts to help the needy.
Today businesses participating in the 20th annual Restaurants Sharing 10 Percent or RSVVP pledge to give 10 percent of their gross profits to local homeless organizations.
Coordinators remain optimistic about community involvement despite the drop in disposable income many families have experienced.
Benefitting from the event are three groups that offer services to the homeless: the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service in Carrboro" the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina in Raleigh and Urban Ministries of Durham.
The declining economy has presented further challenges for organizers this year.
""A lot of restaurants are feeling that people aren't eating out as much"" said Lee Cheney, special events and food drive manager for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
Cheney, the Raleigh coordinator, said the downturn in the economy has brought restaurant participation down one-third from last year.
Irene Briggaman, RSVVP committee member and founder of the event, said total restaurant pledges are down to 105 this year compared to last year's 113.
But Durham organizer Julia Webb Bowden, director of development at Urban Ministries, said that despite tough economic times, many of the restaurant owners she has spoken with have been understanding about the cause.
It's actually been inspiring" she said. On the more idealistic side" people in the restaurant business really want to feed people.""
Last year" the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area raised about $23000 through the event. John Dorward associate director of the Inter-faith Council and the organizer for the event in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area" attributes the success to locally owned restaurants.
""We are only a couple restaurants short from last year" he said. The vast majority said" ‘This is important and we want to participate.'""
Katrina Ryan" owner of Sugarland on Franklin Street" said the drive is important because it raises awareness about homelessness.
""I think as a local business you end up with more of a sense of community" she said. Really" it's a pretty small way to help out and we're happy to do our part.""
When the event first started in 1989" only 43 restaurants signed up and about $6000 was raised Briggaman said.
Though the economy affects everyone" she said the homeless are often hit the hardest and should be remembered through this event on which the aid organizations depend.
""There are a lot of people that are trying to make ends meet and this support keeps them from falling through the cracks"" she said.
SUPPORT RSVVP
Time: All day today
Location: See full list of participants at http://rsvvp.org/RSVVP_08/Participating_Restaurants.html
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