North Carolina-based hospitality management company that owns Carolina Ale House, Hops Supply Co., Oceanic and Bluewater dedicated the month of July to fundraising efforts for the nonprofit World Central Kitchen. LM Restaurants had the goal to raise $100,000 for the WCK’s efforts in Ukraine.
The restaurant group surpassed its goal, fundraising $141,715.
WCK was founded by celebrity chef José Andres in 2010 and sends teams of chefs into areas of crises — hurricanes, tornadoes, war zones — to ensure people in need are properly fed with a hot meal.
It was integral to feeding the greater Wilmington area impacted by Hurricane Florence in 2018, an event documented in the opening scenes of “We Feed People,” directed by Ron Howard and released on National Geographic in May.
Currently, WCK is set up in the Ukraine. Some of its staff and volunteers survived a Russian missile strike in April, which left four people wounded.
LM Restaurant founders Lou and Joy Moshakos’ fundraising efforts were culled from 29 of their restaurants in North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee.
“At LM Restaurants, we believe hospitality is about being an army of goodness,” the Moshakos, who founded the company in 1978, released in a joint statement. “Our LM family has a fighting spirit, and we are honored to support World Central Kitchen and their efforts in the Ukraine in any way that we can. This company-wide fundraiser is our opportunity to give the gift of enduring a little bit longer, for brighter days.”
Fundraisers in July included a Taste of Ukraine dinner on June 23 at Vidrio restaurant, which garnered $10,000. It also hosted a special event at Oceanic to raise $2,750 and sold a Ukraine signature cocktail with all proceeds donated.
It also allowed customers to make donations on their final bill at Carolina Ale House locations, and three other restaurants, including Bluewater Waterfront Grill and Oceanic at the Crystal Pier in Wrightsville Beach, N.C.; and Hops Supply Co. in Wilmington.
More fundraisers are scheduled in fall, including celebrity chef dinners at Bluewater in September and at Vidrio in November. All proceeds will be donated to World Central Kitchen.
Tips or comments? Email info@localdailymedia.com.
Want to read more from PCD? Subscribe now and then sign up for our morning newsletter, Wilmington Wire, and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.
