“We are really very determined to get all the money directly to the victim’s families to pay for the funeral,” said Jennifer Meltzer, managing partner of the restaurant on Fentan Street.
The Silver Spring, Maryland restaurant began helping the families of those killed in a school shooting in Uwald, Texas, last week. All Set Restaurant and Bar donates 100% of its revenue received on Tuesday GoFundMe setting up for those affected.
“We are really very determined to get all the money directly to the victim’s families to pay for the funeral,” said Jennifer Meltzer, managing partner of the restaurant on Fentan Street.
On a regular Tuesday, Meltzer said the restaurant typically accounted for $ 3,000 in sales, but a few hours later he exceeded that amount. By the end of the night, final sales were $ 8,580.45. A local charity has promised to donate up to $ 10,000, and a local developer has also promised $ 2,500.
Meltzer told WTOP that the restaurant would donate a little less than $ 20,000 if all was said and done.
“I know that money does not compensate for their loss, but it was the least we could do,” Meltzer said.
Meltzer, who is a mother herself, came up with the idea of fundraising last week when she was scrolling through photos of the victims on Twitter.
“I immediately wrote to my partner, who is the chef here, and said, ‘What do you think if we donate all our sales on Tuesday?'” Meltzer said.
It was decided to announce on social networks that on Tuesday all the money received by the restaurant will be donated. After the news passed, many people appeared.
Pat Garcia and her husband live in downtown Silver Spring, and she said they would usually stay home on a 95-degree day. However, this Tuesday night they decided to come to the restaurant for dinner.
“When I heard they were donating all the proceeds to the victims of the Texas massacre, I just thought it was a good reason to go out, especially for their big happy hour, and their food is great,” Garcia said.
Tanya Coleman came from the District of Columbia with her family after hearing about the event.
“I think it’s going to be a small donation, given everything the people of Texas are dealing with, but I hope it helps,” Coleman said.
Catherine Turner is a schoolteacher in the area, and as a teacher, she said she wants to support this fundraiser.
“My heart is broken by what happened there and everywhere, but especially at school,” Turner said.
There was a lot of praise among the visitors for what the restaurant does.
The fact that they know how to look at the big deal and say, you know, look beyond the profits, and support this business, I think it’s great, I think it’s a step in the right direction to support families. which will withstand this loss, but it also gives humanity a little more hope, ”said Ken Shelley, who heard about the event while in a city from North Carolina.
“These families have lost children, so all the money you throw at them is great, but it won’t bring back that child. But I am very grateful that we have a way to help them in some way, ”said Anna Baumgartner of Silver Spring.
