A local program that raises money to feed the hungry in Chapel Hill and Carrboro had its best year ever in 2014.

112 restaurants contributed more than $26,000 during the 2014 Restaurants Sharing V/5 & V/5 Percent event, in November.

That brings the 26-year total for funds raised to $457,386.

You can read the full letter from event founder Irene Briggaman below:

As we close the books on the November 11, 2014 RSVVP event, we are delighted to announce that this was the best year ever for Restaurants Sharing V/5 &V/5 Percent. The 2014 total of $26,004 brings our 26-year cumulative total to $457,386 – inching its way to a half million dollars to feed the hungry in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

This is the time for recognition and appreciation to all who make this annual community event such a success. Our sincere gratitude goes out to the restaurant owners who sign on year after year; to our faithful media who publicize the event (The Daily Tar Heel, The Chapel Hill News, WCHL 97.9FM and Chapelboro.com); to the diners who eat out for breakfast, lunch and dinner and to the UNC community, students and faculty, who are urged to “Eat Out” on RSVVP Day by the HOPE Committee who help us to spread the word and flyers on the UNC Campus. Our RSVVP team, Pat Dorward, Susan Friedman, Donny and Mary Ann Walker, Frances Jackson and Elizabeth Garfunkel, worked diligently to recruit the restaurants and carry out the details of the project to its completion.

Inter-Faith Council executive director John Dorward stated, “RSVVP is IFC’s single largest fundraiser and it provides critical funding to our FoodFirst programs. Last year IFC’s Community Kitchen provided 84,645 hot meals and the Food Pantry distributed 16,828 bags of groceries and 867 holiday meals. This has a huge impact on our neighbors who are food insecure.”

Thank you, one and all, for contributing to the success of RSVVP 2014!

Irene Briggaman – founder and team member of RSVVP
Nancy Jenkins – RSVVP Coordinator