Page 1, Campustown restaurant gives meals to shelter

News Story by Eric Tucker, 01/10/95

The homeless and disadvantaged in Champaign-Urbana now have the
opportunity to enjoy freshly-baked sandwiches and desserts every month
courtesy of Zorba's Restaurant in Campustown.

The donation program was initiated by the restaurant on Dec. 12 and
involves preparing and serving one evening meal every month to residents
of the Salvation Army Stepping Stone Shelter, 119 E. University Ave.,
Champaign.

The meals, which typically consist of a fresh gyro and a piece of dessert,
are packaged at the restaurant and picked up by an employee from the
homeless shelter.

"I read an article in the newspaper about how donations for homeless
shelters were down this year and I wanted to find some way to help," said
Jerry Heintze, owner of Zorba's Restaurant, 627 E. Green St., Champaign.

Heintze said he would like to see other local restaurants organize similar
donation efforts.

"I'm trying to get others to do the same thing we're doing, but no other
restaurants have displayed an interest so far," Heintze said. "I think the
program needs more publicity, so I might start writing letters to other
restaurants in the area."

Zorba's Restaurant will prepare hot meals for the residents of the
Stepping Stone shelter on the second Monday of every month for an
indefinite period of time, Heintze said.

According to Donna Rose, administrative assistant in charge of community
relations at the Salvation Army main office, there are usually about 60
people to feed at the homeless shelter at any given time.

"Every month Zorba's will donate about 75 packages of food, which is more
than enough to feed the number of people in the shelter," Rose said.
"There should always be some left over."

Rose said the response from the shelter so far has been very positive.

"People think it's a wonderful program," Rose said. "It's a very nice
thing that Zorba's is doing."

Rose said she would like to see more restaurants become involved with
similar programs as a service to the community.

"If I went into a restaurant that regularly donates food to the homeless,
I would feel that the money I'm spending there is worthwhile, that it's
going back into the community to help others."

Kevin Fluke, manager of Pickles' Food and Fun, 505 S. Neil St., Champaign,
said donating meals to the homeless sounds like a great idea, but he
doesn't know how he'd find the time to organize and execute such an
ambitious endeavor.

"The time element would be the biggest concern for me," he said. "We're a
very busy restaurant and have very little time to spare each day."

Fluke said restaurants located far from the downtown Champaign area might
not even be aware there is a homeless problem.

"It's a good idea for a restaurant like Zorba's to get the word out on
ways to help the homeless," Fluke said. "Hats off to them."

Heintze's meal program is not his first attempt to help the homeless.

Heintze was one of the main people involved in starting the "Put Your
Change Where You Can Make One" program in Champaign- Urbana. The
community-based effort has raised over $1,500 in its first few months,
Heintze said.

Heintze said the monthly meal donations are not part of the monetary
donation program he helped organize several months ago. As a result, he is
now involved in a two-pronged attack on the city's homeless problem.

"The Stepping Stone shelter is open year-round and its needs are
year-round," Heintze said. "The meal program will continue as long as it
is needed."