Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
Copyright 2006 The Times-Picayune Publishing Company
The Red Maple restaurant in Gretna is holding a fund-raising event for the area’s first responders on Aug. 29, the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
The restaurant, 1036 Lafayette St. in Gretna, is hosting a “Buy the Glass” fund-raiser to benefit police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel.
The event will start at noon and will feature a “bottomless glass” of beer, wine or Hurricanes. There also will be food, entertainment and raffles. All proceeds will go to aid first responders.
Entrance to the event will be $35, which includes food, drinks and entertainment. A large portable grill will be used outside the restaurant to cook hamburgers and sausage, said Vanessa Thurber, the restaurant’s sales manager.
Thurber said organizers decided to hold an event in Gretna after hearing about anniversary commemorations on the east bank.
“It was just one of those things everybody was talking about, ‘What are you doing for Katrina?’ ” she said.
To keep expenses down so that more money will go to the beneficiaries, organizers are asking for donations from individuals and businesses. They are looking for food, non-alcoholic drinks, kegs of beer, rum, wine, paper plates and plastic forks. The restaurant also is seeking raffle items.
Business contributors will be able to display company banners and sponsors will be listed throughout the restaurant.
Anyone interested in contributing should contact Thurber at (504)367-0935 or via e-mail at .