Darden restaurants support the Arc of Middlesex

Grant will help residents in need of food source

NORTH BRUNSWICK — The Arc of Middlesex County will receive a $2,000 grant from the Darden Foundation, the owner of several local restaurant chains.

The Arc, which is headquartered in North Brunswick, provides people with developmental and other disabilities and their families with support and services that encourage personal growth and quality of life through empowerment and choice.

The grant comes from the inaugural Restaurant Community Grant Program from the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants, Inc., which owns Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52. The grant program intends to support nonprofit organizations in hundreds of communities that Darden serves.

The six vocational programs called Career Centers at The Arc encourage a feeling of productivity, contribution to society, and a sense of giving back to adults with developmental disabilities.

The community service sector helps deliver food to soup kitchens, food pantries, Meals on Wheels, disability agencies and food drives. The donation will enable The Arc’s project to eliminate hunger in Middlesex County by providing surplus food and nourishment to people whose food source might be compromised or who would otherwise go hungry.

“The Arc is grateful for the financial support from Darden Foundation. The organization as a whole is committed to volunteerism and contributing to society by impacting hunger. The representatives from M.C.F.O.O.D.S. (Middlesex County’s emergency food network) have expressed sincere appreciation for our regularly scheduled food deliveries, which help to replenish their shelves so that everyone in need can continue to feed their families.”