Outback cooks up fundraiser for House of Hope

Fundraising for a revived homeless shelter on Claiborne Street kicked off Saturday with a $25 ticketed meal at Outback Steakhouse.

An all-day, follow-up money-raising event will take place at the restaurant Friday.

Jimmy Russell, managing partner at the eatery along Piedmont Drive, hoped for 200 people. Though attendance fell short Saturday, the turnout was still good considering the worsening economy, he said.

“I guess times are a little bit tough,” Russell said at the restaurant as people trickled in to dine on food donated from Outback.

Donors who paid $25 to benefit House of Hope feasted on sirloin, chicken on the barbie, sweet-glazed pork tenderloin, Caesar salad and other dishes prepared by kitchen manager Chris Doerr and his back-of-the-house crew. Cooks, hostesses and wait staff volunteered their time for a worthy cause. The event took place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Russell said Outback helps out local causes and charities where its restaurants are located.

Food server Heather Beale said she takes pleasure in helping out the homeless and getting involved with the festivities.

“I like to do all the special events I can,” Beale said.

Russell and Alice Woodson, lead hostess and the fundraiser’s marketer, met with House of Hope Steering Committee members to plan and organize the two events. Saturday’s lunch brought in $2,946 with 117 people in attendance and a few extra donations. Servers donated a portion of their tips to House of Hope at the end of the day, Woodson said.

Friday’s fundraiser will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Outback and include appearances by local racecar drivers, and attendees will be able to purchase tickets for raffled items from about two-dozen area businesses. WAKG/WBTM will be on hand with a live remote.

A $5 ticket will enter the donor into a drawing for a 10-foot-by-12-foot playhouse donated from God’s Pit Crew, while $1 will purchase a ticket for one of a variety of items, including a gourmet food basket from Gingerbread House, an oil change from Loftis Tire Company, a $50 gift certificate from Ben David’s Jewelry and a one-year membership at Perfect Body Fitness Center. The more tickets bought per person, the greater the chances of winning the item, Woodson said.

In addition, classic-car and motorcycle owners are encouraged to cruise into the parking lot from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To find out more about House of Hope, visit www.danvillehmc.com. Those wishing to donate to the shelter can do so at Riveroak Church of God at 120 River Oak Blvd. or at American National Bank.

• Contact John R. Crane at jcrane@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7987.