Southern Legacy Waffles, LLC has partnered with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank to fight hunger by placing donation canisters at the registers in 26 of their 70 Waffle House restaurants, and team members encouraged patrons to donate their spare change. The participating restaurants, which are located within the 20 counties the Food Bank serves across Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia, are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are a part of the largest and oldest franchise in the Waffle House system.
Due to the generosity of the diners, the campaign raised $2,354. “Because we can leverage our buying power to stretch $1 into 4 meals, the Food Bank can turn this money into 9,416 nutritious meals,” said Gina Crumbliss, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. “Our Waffle House partners were great to work with and truly believe in inspiring philanthropy and promoting goodwill both inside and outside of the company. Also, Michael Leonard, a Food Bank ‘Souper Volunteer,’ did an outstanding job managing the collection of change each week, for which we are grateful. ”
To reward a lucky Waffle House team member at the restaurant that raised the most money, Mayor David Wear and the Rotary Club of Pigeon Forge donated a dream vacation package for a family of four, including a two-night condo stay at RiverStone Resort & Spa, passes to The Island in Pigeon Forge, passes to both Dolly Parton’s Stampede and Smoky Mountain Adventures and tickets to the Country Tonite Theatre. On Friday, April 27, representatives from the Food Bank surprised the East Ridge Waffle House (Store 123) and Kirk Lewis of Southern Legacy Waffles, LLC randomly selected Nicole Jackson, a veteran Waffle House employee of 10 years, as the grand prize winner.