Gaz Regan, the bartender previously known as Gary Regan, announces the third annual Just One Shift which raises funds to fight the water crisis via Wine to Water, a non-profit organization founded by Doc Hendley, an ex-bartender and CNN Hero.
Eight hundred million people lack access to clean water, and 2.5 billion people lack access to sanitation. Wine To Water is dedicated to providing clean water and sanitation around the world.
World Water Day is on Sunday, March 22, so the 2015 program will kick off on Monday, March 16. During this week, bartenders and servers worldwide are asked to donate all or part of their tips from just one shift.
New this year, the top two donors will have the opportunity to attend an all-expenses-paid Wine to Water service trip to the Dominican Republic on dates of their choosing. These individuals will gain a unique cultural experience while providing clean water.
A similar trip will run from August 22-29, 2015, open exclusively to bartenders and servers who participated in Just One Shift 2015.
In the past year, $41,872.67 was raised, which provided clean water to 40,000 people for an entire year. Just One Shift bartenders and servers donated an average of $244.87 each to achieve that figure. Texas Roadhouse was a particularly proud supporter and in 2014 raised more than $19,000 in two weeks at their North Carolina restaurants.
“We encourage every restaurant in the country to participate,” says Kirsten Sands, regional marketing director for Texas Roadhouse. “Our guests and staffs were more than supportive of this initiative, and our North Carolina locations have raised the bar and committed to raise $30,000 more in 2015 starting in the month of March.”
Just One Shift’s website maintains a list of participating bars and restaurants sorted by state, as well as a calendar of shifts. At the end of the given shift, the bartender or server makes his or her donation via the honor system online.
