Dining out and helping out downtown United Way joins local eateries to raise funds for Addison County

Author: Emily Thompson

The United Way of Addison County and several local restaurants will join together in the coming weeks to raise money for the Addison County community in a collaboration called Dine the United Way. The participating restaurants will donate a portion of their profits to the United Way on select days from late Oct. through mid-Nov.

The participating Middlebury restaurants include Open Book Café, Middlebury Market and Café, Two Brothers Tavern and Green Peppers Restaurant. The level of participation each restaurant will adhere to varies, as will the percentage of profits that each decides to donate.

The basic tenet driving Dine the United Way is not a new one. Green Peppers Restaurant has been holding a United Way day since 1983. On the day after Thanksgiving, the restaurant traditionally donates 100% of its profits to the United Way. Although the United Way underwent changes throughout the last couple of years and broadened its program in order to include more restaurants, Green Peppers did not want to lose its connection with the organization and changed its donation day to fit the new program. The Middlebury Inn's Open Book Café works with the United Way throughout the year.

The United Way of Addison County, which is led by Co-Directors Kate McGowan and Helen Freismuth, is one of more than 1,000 United Ways in the United States. In addition to its fundraising efforts, the United Way works with local organizations and volunteers to meet many of the specific needs of each and every community they serve.

These needs frequently include improving educational opportunities, supporting families, promoting local self-sufficiency and helping to make safer neighborhoods.

The gesture of these local businesses to help to sustain local economy is timely for, as the local economy grows increasingly strained, the money and programs of the United Way will have a significant impact.

The idea behind the Dine the United Way initiative is to foster a sense of intercommunity support, which suits the communities of small town Vermont. Many see it as a way of giving back to a community that has given them so many opportunities. It also enables businesses to donate a portion of their profits and see the results of their contribution right in their own community.

"The program supports more than just Middlebury, Vergennes or Bristol. It helps the larger community. It doesn't matter whether you are from Panton or Rochester, the services are available," said Mark Perrin of Green Peppers Restaurant.

Dine the United Way is just one of the several special fundraising events that the Addison County chapter has held and will continue to hold this year. On Gas Day, held by MacIntyre Services on Oct. 6. , owner Roch MacIntyre donated all of the company's profits to the United Way.

These events are a part of the United Way's campaign to raise $720,000 by Feb. 22, a goal set by the United Way of Addison County Campaign's Co-Chairs Cathy and Sam Trudel. The money raised by this campaign will go to 22 Addison County human service agencies and will fund technical assistance, through strategic planning and board development.

The dining experience allows community members to contribute to their community while enjoying an evening out. Through community and business involvement, the United Way hopes to foster camaraderie within Addison County.