According to a news report from Nation’s Restaurant News, “thousands of restaurants nationwide, from fast-food chains to fine-dining establishments, are joining together this week in the Great American Dine Out, helping to raise money to end childhood hunger.”

“The second annual Great American Dine Out, organized by Share Our Strength, kicked off Sunday, Sept. 20, and runs through Saturday, Sept. 27. Between 3,500 and 4,000 restaurants are participating, said Debbie Shore, co-founder of Share Our Strength. Restaurants that sign up for the Dine Out choose how they want to participate. Some donate a percentage of their weekly sales or the sales from a special menu. Others encourage their customers to donate, either by adding an extra dollar to their tab or purchasing a particular item off the menu.For example, Captain D’s is donating a percentage of its sale on Monday, while Joe’s Crab Shack is raising money by selling T-shirts and “donation cards” that offer the donor a free dessert on the next visit. The Palm steakhouse chain is donating proceeds from all coffee drinks sold during the week, and Buffalo Wild Wings is donating a percentage of sales from all Wild Flatbreads sold.Shore said the number of participating restaurants this year is slightly below last year’s tally, but she noted that the enthusiasm of the operators taking part in the Dine Out suggests that more money will be raised. Last year’s event raised more than $500,000.”