Restaurants on both sides of the bay donated portions-or all-of diners’ food bills to the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas on April 26 as part of Dining Out For Life 2013. According to organizers, 13 more restaurants participated this year than in 2012, meaning financial returns could be slightly larger than in previous years.
“We had 64 restaurants this year,” said Jay Aller, Resource Development Manager for ASAP. “Not all of the restaurants we had last year came on board from last year because they had either closed or were struggling too much. So we had a lot of new participants, which was great.”
Aller, who coordinated the event, said that most ambassadors, who greeted diners and explained the program, reported higher levels of diner participation this year. Aller said the restaurants he was able to visit during the day were busier than in years past.
“I hit 42 restaurants that day and each one was busier than I’ve seen before,” Aller said. “I think we’re seeing a natural increment in numbers every year as the program grows in popularity.”
Restaurants that participated donated at least 25% of food service bills to ASAP. Two restaurants-Frog Pond on Reddington Beach and Chattaways in St. Petersburg-donated 100% of those sales that day.
“The wait for food at Chattaways was about two hours because they were so busy,” Aller said. “And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It shows that people were paying attention to where their donations went that night. Ambassadors didn’t hear anyone complaining.”
Some participating restaurants and businesses utilized entertainment to raise additional funds. Drag performers at Hamburger Mary’s in Ybor City, Quench Lounge in Largo and the Flamingo Resort in St. Petersburg donated their tips to Dining Out For Life and other ambassadors did opportunity drawings to raise money.
“I have to thank all of the ambassadors,” Aller said. “Without their help at the restaurants and talking about ASAP, this event couldn’t happen.”
Aller said he hopes to have financial totals by the end of May, and he’s hoping to hit ASAP’s 2013 goal of $50,000.
