The Beet Street Blog

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It’s not.“  – Dr. Seuss

Occasionally, life throws us a curve ball and we end up down on our luck.  Sometimes we are able to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and turn things around.  Other times, we need a little help.  During the economic state our country is in, our budgets have tightened, but the non-profit sector still needs some extra special assistance so that they can continue to help the growing number of people in need in our community.

I’ve lived in cities all over the western United States, and have never felt the impact and support of the non-profit community as much as I have here in Fort Collins.  Every month there is some event going on to support those in our city who need it most.  Our local restaurant industry is heavily involved in many of the fundraisers we see to assist our local non-profit foundations.

Here are a few upcoming events where you can enjoy some of the delicious dishes from Fort Collins restaurants and help to support our local non-profit organizations at the same time.

• Big Al’s Burger’s and Dogs – Big Al’s Big Change Jar

In place of having a traditional tip jar, Big Al’s decided to make a difference in our city with their “Big Change Jar”.  Each month they choose a cause that is important to the community.  All money collected throughout the month is donated to the selected cause and Big Al’s tops it off with an additional donation.  So far, Big Al’s has donated over $6,000 to local charities!

This month, Big Al’s has chosen Turning Point as their Big Change Jar recipient.  Turning Point provides kids and their families with the tools they need to overcome life’s obstacles and become empowered, healthy, and responsible members of their community.

• Spoons, Soups and Salads – Stone Soup

Stone soup is a tale of three travelers, a village and a community that comes together to help those in need.  For five years, owner Tom Stoner along with the Spoon’s crew have reached out to local farmers and the farmer’s markets in the area to collect produce for their own version of Stone Soup.  Contributions from Miller Farms, Grant Farms, Local Roots Farms, and many local backyard growers helped to create this years soup.

All of the soups made by Spoons’ Chefs will be sold by the quart for $8.00 each.  They feature a different soup each week at the Old Town Farmer’s Market and the Winter Farmer’s Market at the Opera Galleria, and Northern Hotel lobby.  100% of the profits go the the Larimer County Food Bank.

• Empty Bowls Fort Collins 2011

Going 14 years strong, Empty Bowls Fort Collins brings art and food together in mid-February to help those struggling with hunger in Larimer County.  The event offers guests the opportunity to select a pottery bowl made by students in the Poudre School District, or by local artists, and enjoy signature soups provided by local restaurants.

Tasty soups, beautiful art, catchy jazz and a fun silent auction – Empty Bowls is one of the biggest fundraisers for the food bank.  For the price of one ticket, the food bank can feed 200 families in need in Larimer County.

In 1998, they started out with five different soup selections.  Now, they have over twenty in 2010!  Participating restaurants in 2010 included Austin’s, Cafe Bluebird, Canyon Chop House, Crown Pub, Enzio’s, Fish, Jay’s Bistro, Lucile’s,  Sonny Lubick Steakhouse, Spoons, Moot House, Chimney Park, Kids Cafe, MoJeaux’s, Hilton and Tastebuds.

Thanks to our fantastic local restaurants, our selfless non-profit organizations and a wonderful community, there are a lot of people who are a whole awful lot, working to makes things better in Fort Collins.