The coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on the restaurant industry, but that hasnât stopped several Delaware eateries from raising money for struggling nonprofits under a new statewide initiative.Â
They will participate in Dine More 24, a new program that invites restaurants to sell specials, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Do More 24 Delaware campaign. However, the restaurant itself won’t pay that portion; a sponsoring business will.
The fund-raising event starts at 6 p.m. on March 4, but several organizations have already begun promoting and fundraising. At least one restaurant will offer its specials on Monday, March 1, and another on Friday, March 5.
âWe wanted to ask restaurants, âWould you consider running a promotion?ââ said Sarah Fulton, an organizer with Do More 24. âBut we canât really do that this year, because the restaurant community has been devastated. Thatâs how we came up with Dine More 24.âÂ
Do More 24 Delaware is the First State’s version of Giving Day: Nonprofit organizations throughout the state try to raise as much money as they can in a 24-hour period. This year, more than 350 nonprofits are participating. Those who win the most are eligible to win some matching money.
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For business owners like Lanice Wilson of the Juice Joint in Wilmington, Dine More 24 was a âno-brainer.âÂ
âItâs a way to give back and get brand exposure and increase foot traffic,â she said.Â
Wilsonâs business, perched just off the Riverfront, has struggled since many of her customers — downtown employees — have been working from home since last March.Â
The Juice Joint opened last July, âsmack dab in the middle of a pandemic,â Wilson said.Â
At the time, she didnât know if she should open. Pre-pandemic, she projected that most of her customers would come from downtown corporations during the work week. But now foot traffic was stifled.Â
And her father had died from complications due to COVID-19.Â
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It was an uncertain and devastating time, but Wilson thought about why she was opening the Juice Joint, and what she wanted to provide to her customers.Â
âWhat weâre doing here is making people healthier and better,â she said. âSo if there was ever a good time to open, it was then.â
The Juice Joint will be running a week-long, four-for-$30 special during Dine More 24. Their juices go through a two-step cold process that extracts the most juice and nutrients, Wilson said.Â
Last year, Do More 24 Delaware raised $400,000 for 276 nonprofits in one day. Fulton said that figure will likely double this year, but sheâs hoping to hit $1 million.Â
âThereâs a psychology to the urgency and instant gratification of doing something on one day,â Fulton said. âThe magic of the day lies in having individuals advocate on behalf of their nonprofits.âÂ
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Participating restaurants and the dates they are promoting Dine More 24 Delaware include:Â
- Bushels Crab House, 18289 Coastal Highway, Lewes: March 4 (sponsored by Faw Casson)Â
- Wheelhouse 7 Anglers Road, Lewes: March 4 (sponsored by Faw Casson)
- â Zoggs Raw Bar and Grill, 1 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth Beach: March 4 (sponsored by Faw Casson)Â
- The Juice Joint, 323 Justison St., Wilmington: March 1 – March 5 (sponsored by the Buccini/Pollin Group)Â
- Big Fish Grill, 20298 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach: March 4 (sponsored by Performance Food Group)Â
- Vincenzo’s Pizzeria, 1035 Forrest Ave., Dover: March 4 (sponsored by Faw Casson)
- Banks’ Seafood Kitchen and Raw Bar, 101 S. Market St., Wilmington: March 5 (sponsored by Standard Distributing Co.)Â
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Cool Springs Fish Bar & Restaurant, 2463 S. State St., Dover: March 4 & 5
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Restaurant 55, 2461 S. State St., Dover: March 4 & 5
For more information, go to DoMore24Delaware.org. Go to the Dine More 24 Facebook event page here.
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