Marketing

Summit attendees, sponsors working together to help Atlanta's homeless

Over 300 attendees will spend an hour filling 1,500 bags with essential items for the homeless during the Community Give Back Party at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit.

As part of the kick-off festivities to the 2019 Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit in Louisville, attendees make thousands of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to give those in need.

July 23, 2021

Attendees of the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit will not only learn from one another during educational sessions and network at parties but will also work together to help people in need.

After the Aug. 10 opening keynote — delivered by Beto Guajardo, president of Focus Brands International — over 300 attendees will spend an hour filling 1,500 bags with essential items for the homeless during the Community Give Back Party.

"For our last few events, we've made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and bagged apples, and our efforts benefited so many families," said Cherryh Cansler, emcee of the summit. "This year, our partner is Safe House, a non-profit that serves the Atlanta-area homeless community, and we are really excited to provide a way for our attendees to help others."

Each bag will contain hand wipes, toothbrushes, hand sanitizers, water, snacks, napkins, deodorant and more.

"The restaurant industry has always taken care of its communities, and we've seen that again and again during the pandemic as brands stepped up to feed frontline workers while also protecting their employees," Cansler said. "This is just another way to help. What is also amazing is that we've collected donations from many of the companies that also provide services to restaurant brands."

They include: