You can help victims of Helene by eating out this Thursday

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — As organizations continue to help those in North Carolina clean up after Hurricane Helene ravaged the area, restaurants in Grand Rapids are looking to lend a hand.

All day Thursday, the profits raised at 22 different establishments owned by Restaurant Partners Management will be donated to help the victims of the storm. Jeff Lobdell, the president of Restaurant Partners Management, said he wanted to get involved as soon as he saw the damage from Helene.

“I guess nobody understood how bad this was until after it happened. I mean, it’s the second deadliest hurricane that we’ve had in 30 years. I’m involved with the National Restaurant Association and I have friends with restaurants all around the country and I know people in the southern states and as a leader in the industry. I thought myself and my company could step up and try to do something to help others,” he said.

Restaurant Partners Management owns 22 establishments in the metro Grand Rapids and Traverse City areas. A list of participating restaurants in the Grand Rapids area can be found below:

• Alebird
• Bagel Beanery-Michigan Street
• Beltline Bar
• Grand Coney Diner-Michigan Street
• Nobel Restaurant
• Omelette Shoppe
• Pete’s Grill & Tavern
• Rainbow Grill-Grandville
• Real Food Cafe-Alger Heights
• Real Food Cafe-Plainfield Avenue
• Red Geranium Cafe-Byron Center Avenue
• Red Geranium Cafe-Gaines Township
• Sundance Grill-Downtown Grand Rapids
• Sundance Grill-Cascade

This is not the first time the company has offered help after natural disasters. Last year, it donated to victims of the Hawaii wildfires.

For this initiative, Lobdell said he hopes to raise more than $10,000 to help those in North Carolina. The profits will be split and donated to two groups in the area: the North Carolina Hospitality Workers Relief Fund and Mercy Chefs .

Along with the money raised during the day of giving, Restaurant Partners Management has also opened a fund for people to donate to if they can’t make it out to a restaurant in person Thursday. You can do so by clicking here or the QR code on your screen.

The day of giving also comes as Hurricane Milton is predicted to hit Florida late Wednesday night, causing even more destruction. While the emphasis is on the victims of Helene, Lobdell said his team will be monitoring the impacts of Milton and may host another event to help.

“Right now, our efforts are focused on helping all of the people who were devastated by destruction from Hurricane Helene,” Lobdell said. “We’re here not only to serve our communities and take care of our guests, but we look at the bigger picture of hospitality people across the country. And if it’s necessary, we’d love to help there as well.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.