2009 Great American Dine Out

NEW MEXICO RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION JOINS GREAT AMERICAN DINE OUT TO HELP END CHILDHOOD HUNGER
Patrons Encouraged to Visit Participating Restaurants Week of September 20-26

The New Mexico Restaurant Association (NMRA) has teamed up with other state restaurant associations to kick-off the second annual Share Our Strength® Great American Dine Out, a week-long program that raises money to feed kids at risk of hunger in our communities, September 20 – 26, 2009.

“The New Mexico Restaurant Association is pleased to participate again in this year’s Great American Dine Out”,  said NMRA President Jerry Wright, owner of Albuquerque’s Independence Grill. “We hope to continue this program each year and encourage restaurants and consumers to help end childhood hunger in America.”

Participating restaurants include: Papa Murphy’s, Albuquerque, Bernalillo and Rio Rancho; Furr’s Buffet and Furr’s Fresh Buffet, Albuquerque and Santa Fe; Santa Fe Capitol Grill, Santa Fe; McAlister’s Deli, Albuquerque; Elephant Bar Restaurant, Albuquerque; Independence Grill, Albuquerque. More restaurants are joining the cause daily. Visit www.greatamericandineout.org for the complete list.

Each year, more than 12 million children in America are at risk of hunger. Share Our Strength® is the leading national organization that works to end childhood hunger in America. From September 20 – 26, restaurants will donate a percentage of sales to Share Our Strength®. The first Great American Dine Out event, held in September 2008, had nearly 4,000 participating restaurants ranging from family-owned establishments to national chains and raised more than $500,000 dollars to help fight childhood hunger. This year, Share Our Strength® hopes to increase participation and surpass the amount of money raised.

The New Mexico Restaurant Association’s mission is to empower the food and beverage industry by promoting and protecting common values and interests. It has more than 1,000 members in 111 cities all over New Mexico, who join together for meetings, seminars and the hospitality industry awards to honor the industry’s top achievers. It has actively represented and promoted the food service industry in New Mexico since 1946.