Eating program designed to help nonprofits
Social service agencies are finding it difficult to get relief in tough economic times. Enlarge video
Getting a Lawrence giveback card
People can pick up their free Lawrence GiveBack card at Checkers or at participating restaurants. Those include:
• 23rd St. Brewery
• Bambino’s
• Bigg’s BBQ
• Buffalo Bob’s Smokehouse
• Genovese
• Global Café
• J.B. Stout’s
• Johnny’s Tavern
• La Parilla
• Local Burger
• Marisco’s
• Pachamamas & Star Bar
• Paisano’s
• Set ’em Up Jack’s
• TEN
• Zen Zero
• Zig & Mac’s
Cardholders will be allowed to designate any Lawrence-based nonprofit organization as their beneficiary, as long as the managers of the card program can verify that it is a legitimate nonprofit that serves the Lawrence area.
If Lawrence residents maintain healthy appetites during these rough economic times, tens of thousands of dollars may be headed toward Lawrence social service agencies.
A group of 17 locally owned restaurants and the Checkers grocery store have teamed up to create a free dining card program that will donate money directly to Lawrence nonprofit agencies.
“The only thing we’re reading in the newspaper right now is how much the city or the state is going to cut from these organizations,” said organizer Constance Wolfe. Here’s how the program — called the Lawrence GiveBack Card — will work:
l You can go to any of the 17 participating restaurants and present your card. The restaurant will scan the card through a special reader, and then automatically donate 5 percent of your bill — excluding tax, tip and alcohol purchases — to a Lawrence nonprofit agency that you have designated on your card. You’ll also be awarded one point for every dollar you spend at the participating restaurants. For every 200 points you collect, you’ll have $10 added to your card to spend at participating businesses.
l You also can present your card at Checkers, 2300 La. Checkers will automatically donate 1 percent of your purchase to your chosen charity. Each quarter, Checkers will place on your card dollars equal to 1 percent of your total spending at Checkers that quarter.
Consumers don’t have to pay anything to get a card, and the cards will be valid for at least a year, Wolfe said.
Local nonprofits are hopeful that the card program can provide a significant boost in funding. Midge Grinstead, executive director of the Lawrence Humane Society, said that conservative estimates are that the program could provide $30,000 to be split among participating nonprofit agencies. If the card is widely used, Grinstead said it could easily generate more than $100,000 for nonprofits.
“It could make for a heck of a year,” Grinstead said. “And it is so much better than having my hand held out. I feel like I’m doing that all the time. People are great, but you always would like to give them something more than the satisfaction they get by giving.”
Local business owners are hoping that the card program serves as a reminder of the importance of shopping locally.
“We’re obviously hoping to get more business out of it,” said Doug Holiday, an owner of Bigg’s BBQ who helped organize the local restaurant group. “We’re hoping it will generate more repetition and more loyalty, and give people a reason to dine at the local restaurants instead of the national chains.”
The restaurants and Checkers are paying Wolfe — who started a separate dining card program in 2004 — a fee to manage the program. But the social service agencies do not have to pay a fee. They keep the full 5 percent donation from restaurants and the full 1 percent donation from Checkers.
The program also will include a monthly e-mail to cardholders to update them on how much the project has raised, and how much they have individually donated through their purchases.
Wolfe said all the businesses have committed to try the project for a year. She said if the program goes well, she hopes to allow other locally owned retailers to join the program. But she said the program is designed to allow only locally owned businesses to participate.
“We’re trying to stimulate our local business community as much as possible,” Wolfe said. “There’s so much that is out of our control with the economy these days, so if we can do something to help our local economy, we should.”
Businesses are expected to start accepting the cards on Monday. The program has been in the development stage for about 15 months.
“But it looks like it is going to be amazing timing for the social service agencies,” Holiday said.
Comments
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Budgets_Smudgets (anonymous) says…
or you could write a check once a year.
asleepinthechapel (anonymous) says…
Does the article mention where to get the card? I missed it if it did.
prospector (anonymous) says…
Sign me up, oh, my address and e-mail? Junk mail and spam are thrown in for free. Find the one you care about and write them a check.
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Next Tuesday, 100% goes to Social Service League and no middle man.
http://www2.ljworld.com/events/2009/f...
"To begin its 20th Anniversary Celebration Week, Free State Brewery is donating proceeds from today's sales to Lawrence's oldest community service organization: The Social Service League..."
ksarmychick (anonymous) says…
Can they just give me 5% off my bill instead???
Boston_Corbett (anonymous) says…
"Free State Brewery is donating proceeds..."
Huh?
I thought Chuck had to close the Free State because of the smoking ordinance.
You mean the sky did not fall as he had predicted?
Eride (anonymous) says…
Pfft!
But you can't use this as a tax write off!!!
prospector (anonymous) says…
Boston,
Don't like local charity, don't go. Don't like civil liberties, I don't know what to tell you. It is nicer without the smoke.
SoupBone (anonymous) says…
Great idea!!! I will definitely get a card. I support the local restauranteurs and this seems good all the way around. It's easy enough to carry a card. I'm guessing it will fit in my wallet.
MYOB (anonymous) says…
I'm sure LINK, as a not for profit organization, will accept your $2.50 donation via card usage. But I'm guessing that's not what you meant.... And since it's too much of a hassle for you to carry that damned card, I guess they won't be getting that $2.50 from you at all.
not_holroyd (anonymous) says…
The question for Hawkperched should be if the Big Texan Restaurant in Dalhart takes the card.
Tomorrow morning is Cowboy Poetry breakfast, Hawk. Go and meet your valentine. Looks like a good spread.
http://dailypaper.thedalharttexan.com...
Dalhart: No roundabouts, CDBG committees, neighborhood organizations, people named marjene at city hall, only a teeny weeny itsi bitsi chamber of comerce. No downtown organization, university, fountains, alumni centers, students, chancellors, SLT's, downtown parking garages, althletic field controversies, East industrial parks, steep stairs to Mississipi street.
In other words, Nirvana for Hawkperched.
And with monthly Cowboy Poetry at the Big Texan restaurant, who would miss the Lied Center?
Dalhart looks like friendly folk. I bet they can absorb one old galoot.
not_holroyd (anonymous) says…
Hawk, I notice the Red Hat Dollies are meeting at Bar H in Dalhart next week.
I bet you can find a lonely valentine there. Better hurry.
not_holroyd (anonymous) says…
The Big Texan has biscuits, Hawk. Biscuits!
I bet homemade gravy too.
Maybe Snap and Original Bob will drive you down. Sounds like their kind of breakfast.
not_holroyd (anonymous) says…
The Big Texan steakhouse in Dalhart has a 72 oz. steak. If you can eat it, it is free.
Sounds like Hawk's kind of a cheap meal.
And monthly Cowboy Poetry to boot.
Nirvana. Pure nirvana.
not_holroyd (anonymous) says…
They only do Cowboy Poetry once a month.
Hawk, you could start another group on an open Saturday: "The Old Galoot tells you everything wrong with Lawrence, Kansas"
Make those people at the Dalhart Senior Center grateful to be living in Dalhart.
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
It'd be worth it if I could designate the charity. I don't want a dime to go to the Humane Society.
LarryNative (anonymous) says…
This is a cash grab for the participating retaurants. Restaurants operate on on 12-20% margin. These guys are betting on new customers coming in to try thier place. The place still has a 7-15% profit margin after the tax deductible 5% charitable donation. Not to mention, some of the places not doing so great will lie about their sales and pocket the 5%. It's a SCAM!!! Go to McDonalds and throw a $1 in the Ronald McD House Fund and buy a couple things off the $1 value menu.
Thinking_Out_Loud (anonymous) says…
What? Restaurants are operating at a profit? And they engage in a marketing campaign that will help them attract new customers? And improve their profits??
LarryNative, thanks for warning me off the locals and steering me towards the over-processed, bland, corporate giants with benevolent intent that have no such motives.
toe (anonymous) says…
Just give to the charity of your choice. The middle man is simply unnecessary. Remember the best way to help the needy when eating out is as simple as giving your server a tip. Far to many stiff the wait staff.
jafs (anonymous) says…
This is a great idea - my wife and I eat out a fair amount, and I'd be very glad for some of that money to go to charities.
By the way, Confrontation, what's your beef with the Humane Society? It seems like a good organization, and right now they're taking in a lot more animals because of the economy.
xbusguy (chris Ogle) says…
This program is already a success. Got me thinking about the needs of others. I wrote a check (not much, but what I could afford) to two local charities that I feel need it the most.