By Lauren Bailey
Eating fast food was a fast way to donate to a good cause if you dined at the Springville Wendy”s Wednesday night.
Wendy”s hosted an event for Habitat for Humanity of Utah County to raise money for a home to be built in Provo. “”Great food, Great cause” is our way of keeping our commitment to Dave Thomas” legacy,” said Kim Pumphrey, owner of the Springville Wendy”s. “One of his principles was to give back to the community.”
Ten percent of the sales made between 5 and 8 p.m. from customers identifying themselves as Habitat for Humanity supporters will go directly to the organization, Pumphrey said.
During the three-hour event Wendy”s grossed $900, donating $90 along with a new banner to the organization.
Wendy”s also hoped to benefit from the event as it would bring customers to their store. Pumphrey said they hoped to raise at least $250 which would also mean about $2,500 in revenue for the store.
Habitat for Humanity set up a table in the store, enabling customers to donate cash directly to the foundation rather than only through purchasing food.
Free balloons were given out and mascots Wendy and Bob the Builder were there to kickoff the event.
Habitat for Humanity didn”t expect to raise a lot of money, but they hoped the general publicity would help the cause, said Kena Mathews, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Utah County.
“We”ve never done anything like this before,” she said. “This is all new to us.”
Some customers were bothered that they were required to know about the event before hand in order to be involved.
“I already bought my meal but no one told me that some of the money could be donated to Habitat for Humanity,” said Jane Sorensen, a Wendy”s customer and Springville resident. “It seems weird that Wendy”s wouldn”t tell each customer about the opportunity when they were at the register about to buy food.”
Volunteers willing to help build homes are needed Thursdays and Saturdays.
“The families along with volunteers help build the homes,” Pumphrey said. “We are always in need of volunteers to help.”
For more information on how to volunteer visit www.habitatuc.org/volunteer
