El Paso Restaurant Association Set To Kick Off ‘Freedom Is Sweet’

The El Paso Restaurant Association will launch the “Freedom Is Sweet” campaign, which provides financial support to military charities, during the week of Veterans Day, Nov. 7-13.

The group, which is a chapter of the Texas Restaurant Association, held a news conference Thursday at VFW Post 812 at 2400 Davis Seamon Road. Speakers included Anthony Duncan, interim president of the El Paso Restaurant Association and owner of Hudson?s Grill and the Border City Ale House; Bonnie Dominguez of Moe?s Restaurant; and Leo Duran, owner of L & J Caf.

As part of the program, the restaurant industry, city leaders and officials donate or help raise money to support troops. Each participating restaurant will do something different.

L&J Cafe is offering a 15-percent discount to military during the week of Veterans Day. The restaurant, Duran said, is also donating five percent of all its food sales from Veterans Day. In addition to discounts, customer at L&J and other participating restaurants can donate $1 and have their names posted on the restaurant.

All the money collected will be given to National Restaurant Association, which has teamed up with Tee It Up For the Troops, a charitable organization that will administer the money to other organizations that provide support for troops.

Duran said the Freedom Is Sweet campaign is exclusive to Texas, and added that 21 percent of all military live in Texas.

“We expect it to work out great,” Duran said. “We just want to welcome the El Paso community to support the El Paso restaurant industry in supporting our veterans. We can make an impact, knowing that donations will go back the military.

Freedom is Sweet in online at www.freedom-is-sweet.org.

Restaurants participating in the Freedom is Sweet campaign in the area are:

All the Leo’s Restaurants in El Paso

La Terraza

L&J Cafe

Moe’s Restaurant

Border Ale House

Hudson’s Grill

Both Pellicans

Geo Geske’s Fire Grille

Bikini Joe’s

Good Luck Cafe

All Village Inn restaurants in El Paso and Las Cruces.