LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) —Twenty-two Michigan restaurants—fourteen in the Grand Rapids area and six in Northern Michigan—donated all their profits on October 10 to support relief efforts for communities devastated by Hurricane Helene. 

The initiative, which brought together the state’s hospitality industry and its patrons, aimed specifically to assist storm-affected hospitality workers in North Carolina and Georgia.

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“Western North Carolina and Georgia are beautiful regions of our country, and the restaurant and hospitality sector contribute millions of dollars in economic activity, which is now destroyed,” Jeff Lobdell, CEO of Restaurant Partners and chairman of the National Restaurant Association, told MLive.

Dining at one of the 22 participating Michigan restaurants on Oct. 10 meant that 100% of profits went to the North Carolina Hospitality Workers Relief Fund and Mercy Chefs, two organizations directly supporting those in need. In addition, Restaurant Partners’ locations also encouraged guests to make direct donations to the relief funds. 

The North Carolina Hospitality Workers Relief Fund, managed by the NC Restaurant & Lodging Association Foundation, provides financial assistance to hospitality workers who have been affected by disasters. Mercy Chefs, a faith-based disaster relief organization, will use the funds to prepare and serve restaurant-quality meals to those displaced by the hurricane, including first responders and volunteers on the ground.

What stands out in this effort is the coordination among restaurants, from family diners like Bagel Beanery and Real Food Cafe to local spots such as Sundance Grill and Alebird. Northern Michigan’s participation, featuring spots like Apache Trout Grill and Boone’s Prime Time Pub, extended the effort’s reach across the state. 

The idea was simple: bring people together over food, a central part of American culture, while giving locals an easy way to contribute.