‘StreetSmart’ – Melbourne, Sydney & the homeless

A restaurant fund-raising initiative for the homeless

Hospitality Magazine reports on a campaign for restaurateurs with a social conscience. Victorian restaurants have been involved with StreetSmart for the past three years and its now being expanded to NSW. Those who’ve taken part in Melbourne are keen to encourage their Sydney counterparts to join.

The campaign, which started in the UK, involves participating restaurants over the period of the campaign proposing to customers that they add a $2 donation be the table’s bill.

In Victoria last year more than 77 top restaurants raised $78,829 with the money going to 19 organisations that help the homeless. Some Melbourne restaurants involved last year include:

• Bistro 1
• Café Fidama
• ezard
• Harvey’s
• Il Solito Posto
• Lake House
• Mecca
• Red Tongue Café
• Syracuse
• Termini
• Tuck’s Ridge
• Verge

Sydney chef Christine Manfield has been involved with StreetSmart at her London restaurant East@West. She says it has been very successful with a range of restaurants taking part. “It went across the board from modest places to all the noted restaurants,” Manfield says. “Anyone with a social conscience was involved. It doesn’t cost anything and, for the restaurant its easy and effective.”

Melbourne restaurateur Cath Claringbold from Mecca Group has been involved with StreetSmart with her restaurants for the past three years. “Imagine the impact on homeless people’s lives if hundred of restaurants were part of StreetSmart, that’s our aim.”

So far restaurants confirmed to take part in Sydney include:

• Longrain
• Toby’s Estate
• Bird Cow Fish
• Bistro Moncur
• La Grande Bouffe
• The Barn
• Il Piave Bistro
• Stock Canteen
• Coast
• Manta
• Oh Calcutta
• RQ

The campaign this year runs from November 13 to December 24. For more information visit www.streetsmartaustralia.org or call 03 9836 1926.

What StreetSmart does & how you can get involved

What to do

• Visit a participating restaurant, enjoy a meal and, when you ask for the bill, just let the waiter know if you want to contribute to StreetSmart and how much.
• You’ll know it’s a participating StreetSmart restaurant because there’ll be a card on the table, or a reference on the menu will inform you of the campaign and the restaurant’s involvement.

Who Streetsmart helps
One hundred per cent of donations collected through restaurants are granted directly to organisations helping the homeless. Decisions on grants are made by the advisory committee which is comprised of people with expertise in homelessness.

Grants are particularly directed to innovative, community-based organisations that aim to address homelessness by providing food and shelter, and projects helping homeless people to integrate, participate and contribute in the community.

The $2 donation should be over and above any tip that you would like to leave for the restaurant staff. This donation should be your donation, not a donation from the waiting staff. This is important if the campaign is to work – so think carefully about your contribution.

About StreetSmart
StreetSmart was established in Australia in 2003 to support and strengthen smaller, grassroots community organizations helping the homeless. These smaller organisations are critical in helping many people in crisis. StreetSmart helps out by raising funds and delivering financial grants, raising community awareness of the issues of homelessness and assisting these organisations to connect across their communities.

When money is raised from the public through our fundraising events, 100 per cent of all donations is distributed in the form of grants. In two years, StreetSmart has more than quadrupled its fundraising efforts, with the 2005 campaign raising $78,829. To date $140,885 has been distributed. StreetSmart is now operating in Victoria and New South Wales.

Food Rescue — It Makes Sense
StreetSmart helped Mecca Group distribute some pre-Christmas cheer by rescuing crate loads of food pre-prepared for a huge event. Mecca Group donated the leftover food to One Umbrella, who distributed it to agencies helping the homeless and needy.

Are there restaurants in other states interested in joining the project?