19 restaurants to take part in Dine Out to Help Out fundraiser for Food Bank

Nearly 20 restaurants in six area counties will be participating in next month’s annual Dine Out to Help Out fundraiser for Food Bank of the Albemarle.

Each of the participating restaurants plans to donate a percentage of their sales one day during the week of June 3-9 to support the food bank’s hunger relief programs in 15 area counties.

“The funds raised through this hunger-relief initiative will help provide nutritious meals to our neighbors across our region,” Liz Reasoner, Food Bank of the Albemarle’s executive director said in a release. “We encourage patrons to thank their server and restaurant during (that week) for their support of Food Bank of the Albemarle through this incredible event.”

According to the release, the latest data from Feeding America’s annual “Map the Meal Gap” study, food insecurity in the Albemarle region “has spiked significantly.”

“The number of (our) food-insecure neighbors has increased from 36,000 to over 43,000 (14.7% of the population, or one in seven people),” the release states. “The study also included an alarming increase in childhood hunger, with 1 in 4 children” now considered food insecure.

In Pasquotank County, restaurants participating include Captain D’s, Cypress Creek Grill, Montero’s Restaurant, Muddy Waters Coffeehouse and Panera Bread.

Dare County restaurants participating include Treehouse Cafe, the Jolly Roger, Awful Arthur’s Oyster Bar, OBX Popcorn Shoppe Dare, Firetender Stone Oven, Stack ’em High Pancakes & So Forth.

In Perquimans County, The Nicholson House, Albemarle Plantation’s restaurant and Tommy’s Pizza & Family Restaurant will participate. In Chowan County, the participants include Waterman’s Grill, Edenton Bay Trading Co. and 309 Bistro & Spirits.

In Beaufort County, Grub Brothers Eatery and The Bank Bistro are participating. In Camden County, Taylor’s Oak Restaurant is participating.

According to the release, other restaurants are expected to join the Dine Out to Help Out fundraiser. Visit the Food Bank’s website at www.afoodbank.org for updates.