Food & Friends Fundraiser Set for Apr. 24

On Thursday, Apr. 24, 98 restaurants throughout the DMV will donate 25-100 percent of their proceeds to Food & Friends.

The event, held annually in the United States and Canada, raises funds for 60 HIV/AIDS service organizations. More than 3,000 restaurants in the two countries donate a percentage of their sales for the day. More than $4 million is raised each year by more than 300,000 people who dine out for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Food & Friends’ Dining Out for Life is this Thursday. (Graphic: Food & Friends)

Other Dining Out for Life events are held in Baltimore on Sept. 18 benefiting Movable Feast.

Locally, Food & Friends provides specialized, nutritious meals, groceries, nutrition counseling and friendship to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses six days a week, 52 weeks a year including holidays. Its staff of professional chefs and dietitians design meals that meet the special dietary needs of persons living with a broad range of illnesses. Services are free of charge to individuals and their families and caregivers living throughout the Metro D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area.

Food & Friends has used the money raised from Dining Out for Life to deliver 17 million meals to 25,000 clients since it opened in 1988. Clients include adults and children. In 2013 alone, the organization’s volunteers delivered 1,155,074 meals including 96,256 monthly and 3,690 daily. They will serve an estimated 1,207,359 meals this year.

Simply by dining out, you’ll ensure that thousands of children and adults facing HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses, receive the daily, nutritious meals so vital to their care. RESERVATIONS ARE SUGGESTED at most restaurants. Please call ahead or visit OpenTable.com. For an up-to-date list of restaurants visit foodandfriends.org/dol.

Below is a list of participating restaurants, by location, on the Food & Friends website as of Tuesday: