It’s time once again for Columbia Restaurant’s annual Community Harvest, when simply eating out can offer critical help to diners’ favorite local nonprofits. This year, Habitat for Humanity of St. Johns County and Council on Aging are hoping patrons will select them to receive funds.
Anytime in September, visit any one of seven Columbia Restaurants in Florida to enjoy delectable food while supporting the mission of Habitat St. Johns or Council on Aging at the same time.
The Columbia Restaurant, 98 St. George St. in downtown St. Augustine, is part of the 1905 Family of Restaurants that is celebrating its 28th Annual Community Harvest. It is a month-long celebration of local nonprofits and the work they do.
This event gives Columbia Restaurant customers a chance to designate 5% of their bill to one of the pre-selected nonprofits, including Habitat for Humanity of St. Augustine/St. Johns County (Habitat St. Johns) and Council on Aging. The Columbia does all the calculating, and it costs the patron nothing extra.
Over the last 27 years of the Community Harvest, the 1905 Family of Restaurants, including the Columbia Restaurant, has provided $4.4 million to Florida nonprofit organizations, including several in this area.
Malinda Everson, the executive director of Habitat St. Johns said, “The Columbia Restaurant’s generosity helps Habitat for Humanity honor and celebrate our donors, volunteers and community members by providing a meaningful and memorable experience for all.”
The Columbia Restaurant in St. Augustine has a free parking lot on Spanish Street for those who eat at the restaurant.
“During Columbia’s 120th anniversary celebration this year, I’m reminded that great restaurants are more than just places to eat; they’re part of the fabric of the community,” said fourth-generation caretaker and president Richard Gonzmart. “I started this program to help many of the worthy nonprofits so important to the people who live near our restaurants across Florida. The simple concept is to ‘Eat Well And Do Good.’ It’s a delicious way to help these organizations.”
Restaurant guests choose a charity from ballots provided with checks. The restaurant calculates the 5% donation and provides the charity with gift certificates that can be used at any of the restaurants for up to 12 months. There’s no additional cost to the guest.
The original Columbia Restaurant was founded in Tampa’s Historic Ybor City in 1905 by Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez Sr. and is Florida’s oldest restaurant.
The seven Columbia locations include Ybor City in the historic district of Tampa, St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, historic district of St. Augustine, Sand Key on Clearwater Beach, Central Florida’s town of Celebration, the Columbia Cafe on the Riverwalk in downtown Tampa at the Tampa Bay History Center and the Columbia Restaurant Cafe at Tampa International Airport.
For more information and to make a reservation at the local restaurant, call them at 904-824-3341, or go to www.columbiarestaurant.com/historic-district-st-augustine.
