Food & Friends Fundraiser Set for Apr. 23

It is time for Dining Our for Life once again. On Thursday, Apr. 23, 92 restaurants throughout the DMV will donate 25-100 percent of their proceeds to Food & Friends, an organization that delivers free meals to people living with HIV/AIDS and cancer six days a week, even on holidays.

Dine out at participating restaurants on Apr. 23 and they’ll donate 25-100 percent of your check to Food & Friends.
(Grahpic: Food & Friends)

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 DMV.

Dining Out for Life, held annually in the United States and Canada, raises funds for 58 HIV/AIDS service organizations. More than 3,100 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.

Dining Out for Life will be held in Baltimore on Sept. 17 benefiting Movable Feast.

Food & Friends has used the money raised from Dining Out for Life to deliver more than 18 million meals to 26,000 clients since it opened in 1988. Clients include adults and children. In 2014 alone, the organization’s volunteers delivered 1,306,883 meals averaging 108,907 monthly and 4,189 daily.

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.

Join DC on Heels

You can join DC on Heels at Acre 121, 1400 Irving St. NW in Columbia Heights. Our executive editor will be co-hosting dinner from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Come have dinner with us and 25 percent of your check will be donated to Food & Friends. Also, if you make a donation of $40 or more either at the restaurant or online on Thursday, your donation will be matched dollar for dollar, and you will be entered into a drawing for a $1,000 American Airlines giftcard.

Participating restaurants

Below is a list of participating restaurants, by location, on the Food & Friends website as of Apr. 16:

Mark Heckathorn

Editor-in-Chief Mark Heckathorn is a journalist, movie buff and foodie. He oversees DC on Heels editorial operations as well as strategic planning and staff development. Reach him with story ideas or suggestions at dcoheditor (at) gmail (dot) com.