Restaurant gives away pasta for food donation

A spaghetti marinara dinner is the incentive to help the Fazoli’s, 315 College Mall Road, collect 500 cans of nonperishable food for Bloomington’s Backstreet Missions food bank, from now until Thanksgiving Day. \nFazoli’s manager and IU senior Amanda Demaree started the food drive two years ago because she was inspired to help others who could not afford a Thanksgiving dinner. \n“We have to have around 1,500 cans just to feed the needy for Thanksgiving, so this really helps,” said Linda Kelly, president and CEO of Backstreet Missions.\nThe campaign’s slogan has become “Feed Yourself, Feed the Hungry,” coined by \nDemaree. \nBy donating two nonperishable cans of food, the total cost, including tax for a small fountain drink and unlimited breadsticks, will be $1.74. \nTwo years ago, Fazoli’s collected around 430 cans for Backstreet Missions. \n“Our goal is 500, so we can top our previous amount,” Demaree said. \nDemaree expects the same positive student response.\n“It’s a really good idea,” senior Jenna Grile said. “Free food for donating things people already had in their cabinets for a good cause.” \nWhile Fazoli’s would prefer customers limit themselves to one free spaghetti per day, employees admit they have no way to tell and collecting the cans is what’s \nimportant. \nEmployees said they hope to attract more customers. \n“This community is very generous and we’re so appreciative,” Kelly said. “When there’s a need like this, Bloomington really knows how to help.”