A recent LaGrange charity campaign helped to benefit 19 participating nonprofits in the community Feb 15-18. Spearheaded by the LaGrange Business Association (LGBA), the #LaGrangeGives campaign involved 18 participating restaurants who donated a portion of their customers’ food purchases to the local nonprofits. The business association is currently tallying the amount of money raised by the campaign.

“#LaGrangeGives is an idea that illustrates what type of community we are. We dine and shop where we can help and serve. We support local businesses and local causes. We give back and we have fun,” Nancy Cummings, executive director of the LGBA, said.

Because February is generally a slow month in the restaurant industry, the LGBA has previously used this time frame for restaurant promotions. The idea for the #LaGrangeGives campaign came from a nationally recognized holiday called Giving Tuesday, where people take time to donate to their favorite charities.

“We saw how people embraced the idea of stepping up to help their favorite charity on a specific day, and we took that idea and ran with it to develop #LaGrangeGives,” Cummings said.

Customers who showed a flyer to their servers during the length of the campaign would have 15-percent of their food purchases donated to a fund that benefits the local nonprofit organizations. Nickson’s Eatery, one of the participating restaurants, was happy to be involved.

“The restaurants represent a large portion of the business in LaGrange and this campaign brings this business force together for a good cause and a great way to give back,” Carson Baca, co-owner of Nickson’s, said.

Some other restaurants that participated in the campaign include Palmer Place, Q-BBQ, Back Alley Burger and DiNico’s Pizza. Some of the nonprofits that benefited from the campaign include the LT Transition House, The Leadershop, The Legacy Guild, and the LaGrange Community Nurse Health Center.

The LGBA plans to review the success of the #LaGrangeGives campaign with the participating restaurants before deciding whether or not to repeat the campaign next year. If #LaGrangeGives is not repeated, there will be another promotion in its place for 2018.