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Dining out to save lives

Peninsula restaurants take part in AIDS-support fundraiser
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Longtime A Loving Spoonful volunteer Ian Spence delivers meals and snacks to a client in need.

A number of White Rock restaurants will be participating in this year’s Dining Out For Life on March 7.

The annual event, now in its 18th year, is B.C.’s largest restaurant fundraiser benefitting A Loving Spoonful and Friends For Life, which provide nourishing meals to those living with HIV/AIDS.

For A Loving Spoonful executive director Lisa Martella, who previously held the position of associate director at the Vancouver Food Bank Society, seeing the difference a good meal can make in a person is what spurred her to get involved.

“We’re reaching a lot of clients who are homebound and the services we are providing are critical. It feels good to make that difference and see people get better and healthier,” Martella said.

In the White Rock and Surrey area, A Loving Spoonful has provided direct service to 43 individuals in the past year alone.

The team works to provide meals and groceries on a short-term basis for those who require the most help, free of charge. The money raised by the restaurants will be split between A Loving Spoonful and Friends For Life.

“We are aiming to raise $200,000 with the event, so for us, $100,000 goes a long way to providing meals for folks,” Martella said.

Local participating restaurants include: Browns Social House in Panorama, Giraffe Restaurant, Pearl Urban Bistro, Uli’s Restaurant and Washington Avenue Grill. Restaurants will donate 25 per cent of sales – lunch, dinner or both – to the fundraiser.

Visit www.diningoutforlife.com for more info.