PRIZES!

It's time to talk about the prizes! There are some big changes to the way we'll draw the names of the winners, so we'll talk about that first, and then we'll talk about all the fun things you can win!

Any restaurant that donates a five pound minimum (about 10 cans) will receive ONE ticket to be used in the drawing. Any restaurant that donates an amount equal to the laundry basket (pictured above) will receive FIVE tickets for each basketful.

Now lets talk about the basket. The one pictured above has 30 cans in the bottom. If you shop carefully, this is about $15. The dry goods on top represent approximately $15 more, for a total of about $30. Spread this out over 10 or so employees and 5 weeks, and it really adds up to only pennies per person.

While it may seem like alot for one restaurant, I estimate that Dog-n-Burger gave the equivalent of two basketfuls during last year's drive. (I should mention that Dog-n-Burger was the smallest participating restaurant in terms of employees.) Some other estimates: Doumar's gave about 9 basketfuls, Tanner's Creek 7, California Pizza Kitchen 5, Freemason Abbey 5, Baker's Crust 4 and so on and on... So its not impossible to fill the basket.

You should also know that I am not going to take your donations and put them into the basket. We will "eye" the contribution together and make a decision about how many baskets it seems to be, and then issue that many tickets. All tickets will be put together into a container, and then we will have the random drawing. The more tickets your restaurant earns, the better your chances of winning.

Honestly, the reason for the large basket is to try and push you into collecting more food from your staff. The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia tells us there has been a 32% increase in the number of people seeking aid. Do you realize this represents about 90,000 more people? Even our own brothers and sisters in the Food and Beverage industry have joined the ranks of the unemployed. Favorites in our community have fallen this year, including The 219, Magnolia's and The Wine House. We really need to push harder than ever.

Let's talk about some of the prizes donated by some amazing people and organizations.

First, there are certificates for a one night stay at both the Marriott Waterside and Sheraton Waterside. Each certificate comes with its own regulations, and the winner is asked to adhere to all policies. Please use the certificate in the spirit it was given.

The Norfolk Convention and Visitor's Bureau has donated a large gift basket, filled with all sorts of tickets to attractions around the city. This is an amazing gift and can be shared among employees.

There are also two tickets to be used for either the American Rover or Victory Rover. Have fun sailing along the Elizabeth River! Plus there are 2 tickets to an ODU Basketball game, tickets for movies at both AMC and Regal theaters, and a family 4-pack to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. All of us in the industry are familiar with the 2010 Entertainment book, which includes all sorts of discounts, including many 2-for-1 deals at local eateries. According to the cover, if you use every discount in the book, you will save $17,000!

A family 4-pack of tickets to the Nauticus museum in downtown Norfolk! One of the areas hottest attractions!

JUST ADDED: A family 4-pack of tickets to the Virginia Zoo!

We are also giving SEVEN tickets to a show at the Little Theater of Norfolk, which offers the best in locally-cast theater. Productions you might see are "12 Angry Men" and "I Should Have Been In Pictures". And while the winning tickets will only be valid after the New Year, I strongly encourage you to check out their production of America's favorite holiday movie, "A Christmas Story", which is playing November 6th-22nd! Check out the link to the left for showtimes and prices.

Also, two tickets to the Generic Theater, the area's best venue for new productions, avant-garde theater and just-plain-fun theater adventures. Shows playing after the New Year include "Darwin in Malibu" and "Tuesdays with Morrie". Again, although the winning tickets are for 2010, the Generic Theater is also offering a holiday production of " A Tuna Christmas", December 8th-20th. Dozens of characters are brought to life by just two actors in a series of short vignettes that will have you howling in laughter. I've seen this show at the Generic before and it is a HOOT! Check out the link to the left for showtimes and prices.

And something completely original: Klass Act Productions, one of the areas hottest DJ and Karaoke providers is offering a free night of fun for your establishment. This company is HOT and highly in demand, so the winner will have to work closely with the owner to choose a date.

Isn't it exciting? Please check back to this post often, as I hope to have more information, and more prizes listed soon! And start collecting those non-perishable goods. Remember, the more tickets you earn, the better your chances.