THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 20, 1995 TAG: 9512200175
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NANCY LEWIS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
Ten disadvantaged Virginia Beach families will have a brighter holiday this year thanks to the efforts of Rockafeller's Restaurant staff, management and customers.
Employees decided to do away with the usual ``Pollyanna'' approach to celebrating Christmas and instead pool the money they would normally spend on each other - $25 to $30 each - and provide food, clothes and gifts to the families, who were selected by schools and churches.
Larry Cullen, manager of the Mediterranean Avenue company, joined the effort, agreeing to cook turkeys on Christmas Eve for families who lacked facilities to prepare a meal.
The idea caught on like wildfire, with restaurant owners, purveyors and customers donating money and food items for the project. Late last week, the wrapped gifts, which the restaurant staff had purchased during a midnight shopping spree, were delivered to the participating schools and churches in preparation for distribution this week.
In all, about $1,150 was collected, which meant that members of chosen families would each receive at least two gifts and clothing.
In addition, each family will get a hamper containing enough foodstuffs to last a month, Cullen said.
The idea is not new, for other resort area restaurants already sponsor needy families at Christmas. But Cullen hopes that more restaurants will join the effort next year.
``We're pretty proud of ourselves,'' Cullen added. by CNB