thedrifter
07-02-07, 09:53 AM
Area restaurants kick in to help Marines
Portion of proceeds will help supply gifts for troops
BY GEOFF PARKS
Special to the Statesman Journal
July 2, 2007
Chan's Restaurant in Silverton, the A&W restaurant in Stayton and 15 other eating establishments in the Mid-Willamette Valley tithed for Marines on Sunday.
"Christmas in July: Dining for Troops" was a one-time event to benefit the Marine Corps Family Foundation's "Operation Santa." Each restaurant donated 10 percent of its Sunday receipts to the program.
"Sometimes it's hard for people in the communities to understand why we raise money in July for our Christmas package program, but we have to use those funds to start getting them ready in September and October," Connie Riecke said.
Riecke, the mother of a Marine, started the foundation four years ago. She said more than 17,000 packages were sent to individual soldiers and platoons last year. They consist of hand-sewn Christmas stockings filled with socks, candy, toothpaste, pocketbooks, games and other items put together by volunteers.
"Two of my former employees serve in Afghanistan and Kuwait, and I want to support their work in the service," Raymond Kwong said. Kwong, 59, is an Army veteran who has owned Chan's Restaurant in Silverton for 34 years. He expected to raise more than $200 during the Dining for Troops event.
Brenda Lederer, general manager of the A&W restaurant in Stayton, said her business was "aiming to donate at least $400 to the program." Lederer, 36, said she had "encouraged everyone to come out for the cause" about a month before the event.
The Sunday Dining for Troops event was the first of its kind for the foundation, Riecke said, adding that the gift packages put together using the funds were meant to "bring a bit of home to those men and women so far away."
Geoff Parks is a freelance writer. He may be contacted at gaparks@comcast.net
Ellie
Portion of proceeds will help supply gifts for troops
BY GEOFF PARKS
Special to the Statesman Journal
July 2, 2007
Chan's Restaurant in Silverton, the A&W restaurant in Stayton and 15 other eating establishments in the Mid-Willamette Valley tithed for Marines on Sunday.
"Christmas in July: Dining for Troops" was a one-time event to benefit the Marine Corps Family Foundation's "Operation Santa." Each restaurant donated 10 percent of its Sunday receipts to the program.
"Sometimes it's hard for people in the communities to understand why we raise money in July for our Christmas package program, but we have to use those funds to start getting them ready in September and October," Connie Riecke said.
Riecke, the mother of a Marine, started the foundation four years ago. She said more than 17,000 packages were sent to individual soldiers and platoons last year. They consist of hand-sewn Christmas stockings filled with socks, candy, toothpaste, pocketbooks, games and other items put together by volunteers.
"Two of my former employees serve in Afghanistan and Kuwait, and I want to support their work in the service," Raymond Kwong said. Kwong, 59, is an Army veteran who has owned Chan's Restaurant in Silverton for 34 years. He expected to raise more than $200 during the Dining for Troops event.
Brenda Lederer, general manager of the A&W restaurant in Stayton, said her business was "aiming to donate at least $400 to the program." Lederer, 36, said she had "encouraged everyone to come out for the cause" about a month before the event.
The Sunday Dining for Troops event was the first of its kind for the foundation, Riecke said, adding that the gift packages put together using the funds were meant to "bring a bit of home to those men and women so far away."
Geoff Parks is a freelance writer. He may be contacted at gaparks@comcast.net
Ellie