RSVVP Day set for November to raise money for Inter-Faith Council

On RSVVP Day, Chapel Hill diners will count more than calories when they eat at a select number of participating restaurants.

RSVVP, or Restaurants Sharing V & V Percent — the 'V's are Roman numerals — is a fundraising event where participating Chapel Hill and Carrboro restaurants donate 10 percent of that day's profits to the FoodFirst hunger-relief programs run by the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service.

This year, the event is being held on Nov. 11. 

Four local restaurants received awards Tuesday for their continued participation in the program: Jersey Mike's Subs on Elliot Road and Weaver Street Market at Southern Village, each for 10 years of participation in RSVVP; Open Eye Cafe, for 15 years of participation; and Squid's, for 20 years of participation.

RSVVP started in 1989 with waiters and waitresses who set aside tip money to feed the underserved in their area. At one time, the program was picked up by the Food Bank of North Carolina in Raleigh, who approached Irene Briggaman, founder of the RSVVP program, to organize the annual event, which is now in its 26th year. 

Briggaman said RSVVP raised $6,500 and involved 43 restaurants during its first year in 1989. The 2013 event more than tripled that amount, raising more than $20,000 and involving 102 restaurants.

Elizabeth Garfunkel, executive assistant for the Inter-Faith Council, said RSVVP is an enormous fundraising event for the IFC because it supports its hunger-relief programs, which include the community kitchen and emergency food pantry.

Garfunkel said in 2013, the IFC served almost 85,000 meals through its community kitchen program and delivered almost 17,000 bags of groceries to needy families through its emergency food pantry program.

"It's three meals a day, 365 days a year," Garfunkel said. "It doesn't matter if it is snowing, we still serve every meal."

Charlie Farris, co-owner of the Jersey Mike's Subs franchise on Elliot Road, said he is happy to be involved with the RSVVP program.

"We chose this profession because food is really important to us," Farris said. "The IFC provides food to those in need, and it's a relevant and valuable cause to give back to the community."

Scott Conary, owner of Open Eye Cafe, said he wants the cafe to be a positive reflection of the community.

"When we have the opportunity to sponsor or donate to a program, we do," Conary said.

Greg Overbeck, owner of the Chapel Hill Restaurant Group, the parent company of Squid's, said Squid's is proud to be a member of the RSVVP legacy.

"Our philosophy at the Chapel Hill Restaurant Group is that we want to be an active community member," Overbeck said. "We believe in giving back to the community, since the community has been supporting us for many, many, many years."

Though it began as a Triangle-wide effort, only Chapel Hill and Carrboro continue to participate in the program. Briggaman said the awards represent her appreciation toward the restaurants and the community. 

"Restaurants are asked over and over and over again to help support the community and, bless their hearts, they continue to do that," she said.

city@dailytarheel.com