Would you pay an extra $1 on your lunch or dinner bill to help ease homelessness in the Port Macquarie-Hastings?
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The Port Anglican Soup Kitchen is hoping to encourage local restaurants to sign up to the DineSmart campaign.
Currently part of the dining out culture in Sydney, Melbourne and several major regional centres, the Soup Kitchen is hoping that local restaurants and diners will embrace the four week campaign which starts in November.
A spokesperson for the Soup Kitchen Karen Richards says funds raised would help those who are homeless and those at risk of homelessness.
"The idea is that participating restaurants and cafes would add $1 to the bill for a set period of time," she said.
"Diners can easily opt out if they wish. Diners can also search an online map via the DineSmart website which shows which restaurants in their area are part of the campaign.
"The funds raised would then go to specific local Port Macquarie-Hastings charities.
"At the end of the allotted campaign, organisations would be invited to apply for funding via a grant process.
"The goal would be that these groups would be worthy, grass roots organisations."
The event would be hosted under the StreetSmart banner.
StreetSmart has already been successfully running it's CafeSmart campaign in Port Macquarie for several years with the support of the local community.
- Karen Richards
"StreetSmart has already been successfully running it's CafeSmart campaign in Port Macquarie for several years with the support of the local community."
Botanic Wine Garden's Joel Murdoch was the first to sign up to the cause.
He says getting involved was an easy decision.
"You are giving something back," he said. "I am surprised to see that Port Macquarie has a homeslessness problem.
"This campaign can raise awareness into homelessness and is one small step that can be done.
"The Soup Kitchen does a great job of getting local businesses involved too."
Mr Murdoch said giving something back to the community was a key ingredient.
StreetSmart founder and chief executive officer Adam Robinson says the campaign can help many people.
"The beauty of the campaign is that any restaurant, anywhere in Australia can get involved and have an impact in their community," he said.
"We are asking small businesses and their customers to team up and if everyone chips in a $1 when they eat out, we can help a lot of people."
Since 2003, the annual DineSmart campaign has seen restaurateurs partner with their diners in the lead up to Christmas to raise funds and support their local community.
Together they have helped StreetSmart raise over $5 million for 569 grassroots homeless organisations, sparking a number of innovative projects that are leading local responses to homelessness.
Port Macquarie-Hastings restaurants and cafes have until November 15 to sign up on the StreetSmart website.
The campaign operates from November 21 through to December 31.
Once a business has joined up, they receive further details and information on how the campaign operates.
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