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StreetSmart allows Greater Victoria diners to fill food bank shelves

Diners in some of Greater Victoria’s most popular restaurants can support the Mustard Seed and Sooke food banks during the holiday season by adding a donation on their bills. StreetSmart: Feed Your Community was launched Nov.

Diners in some of Greater Victoria’s most popular restaurants can support the Mustard Seed and Sooke food banks during the holiday season by adding a donation on their bills.

StreetSmart: Feed Your Community was launched Nov. 1 in Victoria and is designed to help the food banks over the holiday season, one of their most critical times when those less fortunate are in most need.

StreetSmart was launched in the United Kingdom in 1998 and has raised more than $12 million for food and shelter programs. It is endorsed by celebrities, such a chefs Gordon Ramsay, Markus Wareing and Stephen Fry. The program arrived in Canada last year with 12 Vancouver restaurants raising $4,000 in its debut.

It’s a simple program that has generated results. An information card is placed on tables of participating restaurants. Guests are invited by servers to donate to StreetSmart.

There’s is no hard sell or pressure. At the end of the meal, guests have the option of adding $1 or more to their bill. They are not required to donate.

A similar program, called MealShare, co-founded by two UVic grads, was also launched in Victoria last week.

StreetSmart has become a global effort with chapters in South Africa, New Zealand, India and the U.S.

StreetSmart Canada also has chapters in Toronto and Kingston, Ont. The goal of the 50 Canadian restaurants is to raise $100,000. The program, co-ordinated in Victoria by Karen Clarke, Barbara Smith and Roger Skillings, runs Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.

A $1 donation can go a long way for a food bank, equating to about $3 worth of food. There’s more information at streetsmartcanada.org

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Participating restaurants

• 10 Acres, 611 Courtney St.

• Ca Va, 1296 Gladstone Ave.

• Cafe Bistro, 944 Fort St.

• Cheryl’s Gourmet Pantry, 2009 Cadboro Bay Rd.

• Milestones, 812 Wharf St.

• Pescatores Seafood & Oyster Bar, 614 Humboldt St.

• Relish Food and Coffee, 920 Pandora Ave.

• Marina Restaurant, 1327 Beach

• Sooke Harbour House, 1528 Whiffen Spit Rd.