Are you going to participate in Dine Out?

I'm newly involved with a charity called "No Kid Hungry," through Tomversation, my comic strip. I wrote a blog story about how we hooked up here at Tomversation. Anyway, from September 16 to 22, the annual Dine Out for No Kid Hungry kicks off. I am asking local restaurants to participate.

This is a nationwide event where restaurants develop creative promotions to raise money for Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign to end childhood hunger in America. I am asking local restaurants to get involved, there is no cost to you. 

I thought the figure was eight million, but it's actually double -- 16 million kids in America live with the threat of hunger every day! And if it's not them, it's their parents, who will give up a meal or two or three in order to feed their children. That's daily, in the United States!

The dollars raised through Dine Out For No Kid Hungry support the No Kid Hungry campaign to help ensure that every child in the U.S. gets the healthy food they need, every day.

This is a fundraiser, but no financial commitment is required to participate. Decide how to raise funds during the week of September 16-22 and you can go longer if you wish. Many restaurants find success with customer driven promotions, where you reward your customers for making donations. For example, if a customer makes a $1 donation, reward them with a $2 coupon they can use on a future visit. Simple menu promotions are also popular, and are a good way to introduce a new or special menu item, or entice customers to order a dessert or appetizer –just tell them how much of the purchase price you will donate to the No Kid Hungry campaign.

Visit the Participant Resource Center, found in the upper right-hand corner of DineOutForNoKidHungry.org to find case studies, downloadable templates, materials and training guides to help you promote your participation.

Engage and train your staff, promote the event and run your promotion September 16-22, 2012 or longer.

Register here: www.DineOutForKidHungry.org. There is no cost to sign up.