In the NEWSPAPER

Wednesday, Oct..10, 2001
NEW YORK TIMES

From the Table to Those in Need

By Florence Fabricant

TOMORROW, one month after terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, thousands of restaurants around the world will donate part of their evening's receipts to organizations helping the families of victims. And the effort is only beginning. In coming weeks and months, scores of restaurants, wine shops and food-related businesses will sponsor programs to benefit major charities like the Red Cross as well as fire and police families and others in need as a result of the attacks.

"More than 300 restaurants in New York City and hundreds of others elsewhere will contribute at least 10 percent of tomorrow night's proceeds to Windows of Hope, whose mission is to to help the families of food service workers who were killed. The charity was started by several New York chefs, who say it might eventually raise millions of dollars from tomorrow's dinners and from other events and corporate donations. A list of participating restaurants is available from www.windowsofhope.org.

AIn addition to more than 70 workers who died in Windows on the World, which was on the 107th floor of 1 World Trade Center, there were many others who worked in the private dining rooms or who may even have been delivering coffee, said Michael Lomonaco, who was the executive chef of Windows on the World. The total list of victims ''is still unknown, and it will take time, but the support has been terrific,'' he said.

"Dine Out America is another nationwide effort involving more than 5,000 restaurants, mostly chains like Outback Steakhouse, Chili's Grill & Bar, T.G.I. Friday's, Friendly Ice Cream, Red Lobster and Olive Garden. They plan to give a percentage of tomorrow's proceeds to the Red Cross.

BThe evening of charity is also likely to inspire many people to dine out, which will help restaurants in New York and Washington, which have suffered a decline in business since the attacks.

Some charities are giving part of the money they raise at their own benefits this fall to World Trade Center funds. Action Against Hunger, which supports hunger-relief programs around the world partly through restaurant contributions, has given 10 percent of its campaign this year to the Lower Manhattan Residents Relief Coalition, a community group. Action Against Hunger is running a dine-out campaign next week and a benefit dinner on Tuesday at Tavern on the Green: (212) 967-7800.

restaurant-by-restaurant listing in complete article