Triangle residents will have the opportunity to help feed the hungry of their community on Tuesday, November 14th, when they patronize any local restaurant participating in the RSVVP (Restaurants Sharing V/5 & V/5 (10) Percent) program.

More than 200 restaurants in Chapel Hill-Carrboro, Durham and Raleigh are expected to participate in the RSVVP event that raises funds to aid shelters and community kitchens throughout the Triangle area.  Funds are raised through the donations of participating restaurants that pledge 10 percent of their gross receipts for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner on that one day of the year.

Proceeds from this annual fund-raiser benefit the Food Bank of North Carolina (Raleigh-based program that feeds the hungry in 34 central and eastern counties in the state), Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (which operates a shelter, soup kitchen and emergency food pantry in Chapel Hill/Carrboro), and St. Philip's Community Kitchen (serves up to 250 meals per day, six days a week in Durham).

The program started in 1989 with only restaurants in Chapel Hill and Carrboro participating.  Raleigh and Durham joined the intended Triangle-wide project a year later and since then they have all together raised more than $260,000 for local hunger-relief efforts.  The 2000 goal is $35,000.

Patrons can contribute to the program by visiting their favorite restaurant for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner on Tuesday, November 14.  
For information and listings of participating restaurants, call the Food Bank (875-0707), Inter-Faith Council (929-6380), St. Philip's Community Kitchen (688-7378) or check local newspapers for a complete list of participating restaurants.