There is nothing like the sweet taste of donating to a good cause. Why not eat, drink and support charity at the same time?
The annual Great Plates of Downtown Fort Collins fundraiser has returned with 25 participating local restaurants. Eateries teamed up with Great Plates will be offering a variety of $25 dinner and drink specials with an encouraged donation to the Food Bank for Larimer County. The fundraising event will run from 5 p.m. until closing at participating restaurants, every day until March 14.
“Great Plates is a perfect example of showing how our community can come together to support a great cause and to help fight hunger.” — Paul Donnelly, communications manager at The Food Bank for Larimer County
“Great Plates is a perfect example of showing how our community can come together to support a great cause and to help fight hunger,” Paul Donnelly said, communications manager at The Food Bank for Larimer County. “Our local restaurants have also always been there to support us.”
Seven annual sponsors of Great Plates have returned this year for the two-week-long fundraising event, including Colorado State University. “[Sponsoring] is a way to be involved in the community and help a good cause,” Mike Hooker said, director of public affairs and communications at CSU.
Students are encouraged to take advantage of this deal, as many restaurants include meals for two people in their offers. Not only is it a full and delicious meal, but it is a great way to save some money on large portioned and good quality food or drink. The best part is that while eating a great meal in downtown, it automatically also feeds others in the community through the cause.
After dining with the discounted rates, guests are encouraged to leave spare change in envelops provided or as a tip on the check for the Food Bank. Through the duration of Great Plates, 100 percent of all donations will go toward the cause. Every $1 that is donated after meals at partnered restaurants, $5 of food will be provided to the Food Bank. Last year, Great Plates set a record by raising over $110,000. Over the course of this fundraiser’s 11 years, they have raised about $430,000.
Great Plates participating restaurants include: Austin’s American Grill, Beau Jo’s, Blue Agave, Coopersmith’s, Elliot’s Martini Bar, Illegal Pete’s, Jax, Jay’s Bistro, The Kitchen, La Luz, LuLu Asian Bistro, The Mainline, The Melting Pot, Pour Brothers, Rare Italian, Rio Grande, Rodizio Grill, Social, Sonny Lubich Steakhouse, Spoons, The Still, Stuft, Taste Harmony and The Welsh Rabbit. Each restaurant offers different types of deals with a variety of foods and drinks. Find all Great Plates food and drink offers for these restaurants here.
In 2017, the Food Bank distributed 7.72 million meals and 3.54 million pounds of fresh produce throughout the year.
The Food Bank for Larimer County began the Great Plates of Downtown Fort Collins fundraiser in 2006. They believe that no one should go hungry and their mission is to provide food to everyone in need throughout the community. Partnerships, sponsors and hunger relief programs majorly help the Food Bank to be successful in their vision. Their goal is to deliver health, humanity and hope to people to help clients in their everyday lives and to build a secure community. They are a non-profit organization and are also the only Feeding America clearinghouse for donated food in the county.
In 2017, the Food Bank distributed 7.72 million meals and 3.54 million pounds of fresh produce throughout the year. They have also served 37,500 people, including children and seniors, since starting. In addition to the donations that they receive every day from their food rescue program, the Food Bank has partnered with many local organizations to encourage donations of surplus food.
According to the Food Bank, 14 percent of Larimer County residents live at or below the Federal Poverty Guideline. Also, over 42,000 residents have been found to be food insecure, 8.4 percent of that population being seniors and 30.8 percent being single mothers. The fight against hunger is at large in this county and the food bank does everything that they can to help.
The Great Plates of Downtown Fort Collins fundraiser is just one of the many ways that you can help to make a difference for hungry people in this community. Eat, drink and support this charity to fight hunger, rams.