Jacksonville, Florida-based classic Southern barbecue chain—Woody’s Bar-B-Q—announced its new partnership with No Kid Hungry—a national campaign dedicated to ending child hunger in the United States. As a result of this new relationship, Woody’s Bar-B-Q will play host to a number of fundraisers at participating locations throughout 2018.

“For a number of years, we have partnered with an incredible nonprofit here in Jacksonville called Healing Hands—First Coast Child Protection Team,” says Yolanda Mills-Mawman, president and COO for Woody’s Bar-B-Q. “We’re very proud of the fact that we’ve raised thousands of dollars to support their very worthy cause of providing services to children who have been victims of abuse or neglect in Florida’s Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties. But since so many of our restaurants lie outside of those counties and beyond Florida’s borders, we’ve been on the lookout for a national nonprofit for which all of our locations could show their support. As a family-friendly concept designed to bring people together around the dinner table, we believe No Kid Hungry is the ideal fit and look forward to seeing what our franchisees and customers can do to help this worthy cause over the course of the coming year. We have dubbed 2018 ‘The Year of the Kids’ and a lot of our events and promotions are geared towards our pint-sized patrons for whom we are truly grateful.”

No Kid Hungry is a national campaign run by Share Our Strength, a nonprofit working to solve problems of hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world. After 25 years of successfully investing in local nonprofits and helping find the best approaches to eradicating poverty and hunger, Share Our Strength launched No Kid Hungry in 2010. Today, No Kid Hungry regularly partners with such well-known brands as Walmart Foundation, Amazon, Fresh Market, Food Network and Citi, among others.

Woody’s customers will want to mark their calendars for the following upcoming events at their favorite local Woody’s Bar-B-Q franchise, designed to raise funds for No Kid Hungry:

March 2018—Spend a Dollar, Fill a Tummy: Guests will have an opportunity to fill the walls of their favorite local Woody’s Bar-B-Q with cute little kids faces, emblazoned with the name of the purchaser. Each face is just $1, and all proceeds from this event will benefit No Kid Hungry.

June 2018—Have a Meal, Feed a Child: A portion of the proceeds* from entrées purchased at Woody’s Bar-B-Q will benefit No Kid Hungry. The more entrees purchased during this month, the more money raised – so barbecue fans are encouraged to bring a crowd and visit often in June.

September 2018—Spare Rib Eating Contest: Participating Woody’s Bar-B-Q locations will play host to a Spare Rib Eating Contest on a Saturday during the month of September. All of the proceeds from this event will benefit No Kid Hungry.

Casual Dining, Chain Restaurants, Industry News