INDExtra

Feed yourself and a cause: St. Joe's Diner

by Dominick Cross

The community is encouraged to eat out to end hunger by dining at the participating restaurants for breakfast, lunch, dinner and any other time of the day. Dine for the Diner participating restaurants have agreed to donate 10 percent of their sales to St. Joseph Diner.

According to Southern Living, Lafayette is the South's Tastiest Town.

Well, we're also very generous, too, and come Wednesday the Lafayette Catholic Service Centers and some 25 local restaurants are teaming up for Dine for the Diner, an annual fundraising event benefitting St. Joseph Diner.

"As an organization we are always overwhelmed by the generosity of others and the support of the community. We appreciate the relationships formed with restaurant owners and their patrons through this event," Sarah K. Rabalais, administrative coordinator, Lafayette Catholic Service Centers, responds via email. "These restaurants should be applauded for their partnership with us, by joining together we have the opportunity to invite the Lafayette community into the works we do, and give them an opportunity to help the less fortunate. The reputation of the hospitality and generosity that Lafayette has is apparent during Dine for the Diner."

"For the most part the number of restaurants is on par with other years. The combined factors of restaurants adding new locations, new restaurants participating and some restaurants opting out, keep our numbers fairly consistent," "We have several loyal restaurants that participate every year giving us a solid foundation to expand our event from year to year."

The community is encouraged to eat out to end hunger by dining at the participating restaurants for breakfast, lunch, dinner and any other time of the day. Dine for the Diner participating restaurants have agreed to donate 10 percent of their sales to St. Joseph Diner.

And that 10 percent, according to Rabalais, "directly benefits St. Joseph Diner. St. Joseph Diner is one of nine programs operated by Lafayette Catholic Service Centers. It provides lunch to the general public seven days a week, 365 days a year, homebound meals to the elderly, emergency food boxes to those in need, and a senior bread pantry that provides bread bags and commodities to eligible senior citizens."

Rabalais writes that because the Diner is open to the public it also serves as an entry point for those in crisis to access other services that could assist them.

"Proceeds generated through this fundraiser help us continue those services, especially in times when donations and food drives are less frequent," she writes. "The principle is simple, when you participate in Dine for the Diner, you are not only feeding yourself, but you are feeding the hungry at the same time, anyone can get involved."

The Diner is known for preparing and serving free lunch meals daily since 1983.

In 2011, more than 100,000 meals were served to the needy in our community. St. Joseph Diner also provides an average of 400 bread and commodity bags to low income seniors each month and special baskets during holiday seasons. These services would be impossible without the support of the community and generosity of the restaurants participating in this event.

The participating restaurants are:

Another Broken Egg

Antoni's

Bailey's Seafood & Grill

Blue Dog Café

Charley G's

Chris' Po?Boys

Dean?O's

Dean?O's South

Fat Pat's

Great Harvest Bread Co.

Ground Pat'i Grille

Hub City Diner

iMonelli

Jolie's Louisiana Bistro

Lagneaux's

Landry's Café

Landry's Café South

Lil'Daddy's BBQ

Olde Tyme Grocery

Office Hours Sandwich Shop

Pete's Family Sports Grill

The Saint Street Inn

Tropical Smoothie Café

Village Market (Sugar Mill Pond)

Viva La Waffle