RESTAURANTS WILL DISH UP CHARITY TUESDAY

About 25 restaurants in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City will be serving up charity Tuesday.

The Area Wide United Way will sponsor its first Restaurants Organized for Charity, called ROC '98. On that day, participating restaurants will donate a percentage of their sales to the 1998 United Way Campaign.

Mark Dirnberger, general manager of Cedar Street at Drury Lodge and president of the Southeast Chapter of the Missouri Restaurant Association, is pleased with the response.

He said participation from the public is easy: Hang up the skillets in your own home and pick up your fork at one of the participating restaurants Tuesday.

"The money raised Tuesday will be a perfect way to kick off the month of giving, while keeping the benefits within our communities of Cape Girardeau, Jackson, and Scott City," he said.

Dennis "Doc" Cain, owner of Port Cape Girardeau, said, since this is the first year, it's hard to know how much the promotion will raise.

"Conservatively, I'd say we'd raise at least $2,000, but I don't want to limit us to that," he said. "With the group we have participating and the public coming to support us, we can raise quite a bit of money."

Each individual restaurant sets the portion of sales it will donate to United Way. Participating restaurants don't have to reveal their sales of the day.

Cain feels the number of participants will continue to grow each year. In fact, he said restaurants can continue to sign up until the day of the event.

Many of the local restaurants are already supportive in the Area Wide United Way, through employee groups or corporate contributions. Others help with school, church and other fund-raising events.

But he said the Area Wide United Way is a great way to support many different community needs. Proceeds from ROC '98 will go directly to support 25 agencies in the local communities.

"The restaurant industry as a whole is very good at helping out the community when needed," said Cain.

Participating restaurants will post signs Tuesday, along with table placards to thank patrons for helping the United Way.

Current participating restaurants include: Burger King on Broadway, Cookie Corner, Dairy Queen in Jackson and Scott City, Dino's Pizza, Dominos Pizza, Cedar Street at Drury Lodge, Galleria Grill, Grecian Steakhouse, Hardees, Heavenly Ham, Victoria's at Holiday Inn, Imo's Pizza, Jade's, Jeremiah's, Little Caesar's Pizza, Mazzio's Pizza, Pagoda Gardens, Pasta House Company, Pizza Pro, Port Cape Girardeau, Taco Bell and 177 Truck Stop.

Since 1954, the United Way has raised more than $9 million dollars for community services ranging from emergency food and shelter to helping the youth, elderly, disabled, victims of abuse, and others in need.

For more information on participating restaurants or to add a restaurant to the ROC '98 list, contact the Area Wide United Way office at 334-9634.