Since it’s inception 25 years ago, the RSVVP event has helped provide 1.875 million hot meals to hungry people in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
The event, held on the second Tuesday of November at restaurants across both towns, lets patrons donate 10 percent of their tab to the Inter-Faith Council.
Restaurants were honored for their participation in the event at The Siera Hotel Tuesday.
Six restaurants started the event 25 years ago, including The Siera Hotel’s Il Palio restaurant.
The other restaurants were Crook’s Corner, the Carolina Inn’s The Crossroads restaurant, Sal’s Ristorante, Weathervane, and Weaver Street Market in Carrboro.
Now dozens of restaurants participate in the event every year, said Irene Briggaman, the event’s coordinator. And the restaurants have helped raise over $400,000 for the Inter-Faith Council, which serves the hungry in Chapel Hill.
John Dorward, the council’s executive director, said he hoped all the attendees at Tuesday’s event went home feeling proud of their generosity.
“People do not need to go to bed hungry at night if they don’t want to. Not in Chapel Hill Carrboro.”
Tony Sustaita, the owner of Bandido’s, said he’s happy to participate in the event every year because it even helps him pick up extra business that day.
“When I opened the Chapel Hill store 19 years ago, I wanted to be part of the community,” Sustaita said. “We normally have to spend money on that kind of advertising. I’m grateful RSVVP does it for us.”
Sustaita said he sometimes picks up 33 percent more business during RSVVP, making the 10 percent donation at the end of the night well worth it.
The Daily Tar Heel, the Chapel Hill News, and WCHL were all honored for hosting the event for the last 25 years.
To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.
