Roadhouse will feed the needy before the rest of us
As Texas Roadhouse prepares for its grand opening Monday, freshly made meals such as catfish and prime rib will first be enjoyed by needy people who visit agencies in the Second Harvest Food Rescue Program.
As Texas Roadhouse prepares for its grand opening Monday, freshly made meals such as catfish and prime rib will first be enjoyed by needy people who visit agencies in the Second Harvest Food Rescue Program.
The new restaurant at 902 Mall Drive has estimated about 500 pounds of meat and fish will be donated this week to nearby businesses and charities, managing partner Mark Prosen said.
“We are very big on being a part of the community and not just a business,” said Prosen, whose restaurant is neighbors with Olive Garden and Home Depot. “That is why we want to make the most use of the food that we have. We obviously don’t want it to go to waste, and we want to give it to people in need. And then from a business standpoint, we also want to get our name out there with locals as well. We want them to know that we are coming to town, and this is what we offer.”
Texas Roadhouse has become one of about
60 organizations, including schools, restaurants and hospitals, that donate perishable items to the Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank program. The meals are collected daily in a refrigerated truck and immediately delivered to
14 agencies such as Union Gospel Mission, the Salvation Army and CHUM.
“It’s a wonderful commitment from a new restaurant in town,” said Shaye Moris, executive director of Second Harvest. “As most people know, need is high right now, so we are happy to come pick it up.”
With made-from-scratch side dishes and fresh baked breads, the Texas Roadhouse donations add to the nearly 400,000 pounds of food — or nearly 320,000 meals — donated in the past year.
“It’s a great program, and it’s great to see new donors,” Moris said.
Texas Roadhouse food preparer Maddy Moilanen of Duluth diced about 30 pounds of lettuce into house salads earlier this week.
“That is a lot of lettuce,” the 18-year-old woman said. “That is the most lettuce I’ve seen.
“None of it gets wasted. All of it is recycled, which I think is great. Every restaurant goes through so much food, and there are a lot of hungry people out there that could eat it.”
The giving continues this weekend at Texas Roadhouse. On Friday and Saturday, an invitation-only group will be treated to meals during a test run. The food is on the house, but all proceeds from drinks or tips will go to the Northern Lights Foundation.
The foundation was set up in late 2006 to provide grants to families with children suffering from life-threatening illnesses, said Ken Larson, foundation president and founder.
“This means a lot to local families,” he said.
Tags: texas roadhouse, news, food, restaurants
RSS Feeds