« Back to Blog

Join The Greene Turtle Restaurant Nationwide for the 12th Annual Tips for Tots December 13, 2017

14 November 2017 by

12TH ANNUAL TIPS FOR TOTS EVENT FROM OPEN-CLOSE, DECEMBER 13, 2017

Join us at participating Greene Turtle locations Wednesday, December 13th*, 2017 for our 12th Annual Tips for Tots Event! Last year we reached our goal of almost $70,000 for local Toys for Tots programs, and this year we’re upping the ante with a goal of $90,000!

Help us reach our goal and make the holiday season happier for local children by participating in one of two ways:

  • Dine with us at a participating location on December 13th* and 100% of the tip you leave will go toward the purchase of toys, which will then be donated to your local Toys for Tots chapter.
  • Stop by a participating location and drop a new, unwrapped toy in the bin.

HOW IT ALL STARTED

"Tips for Tots" was the selfless idea of Corlie Brice, a bartender at The Greene Turtle in Salisbury. She arrived for her shift one cold December night in 2006 and noticed a sign on the neighboring business, designating it as a "Toys for Tots" drop-off site. She decided to use whatever tips she took in during her shift to purchase toys for the program; additionally, she enlisted her fellow employees and publicized her intentions to guests coming into the restaurant to increase the potential donation. That evening, she and fellow bartender Chris Tingle took in $700, an amount that proved even more valuable when the manager of a nearby Ollie's Bargain Outlet agreed to give her a discount on her purchases once she explained her intentions.

Since the inaugural effort, The Greene Turtle has donated over $240,000 in purchased toys to local Toys for Tots programs, through the tips donated by restaurant employees, the corporate offices and additional gifts donated by other members of the community. Guests have rallied to the cause, occasionally giving tips as large as $50 to $100 on the purchase of a single beer. The staff makes shopping with the donated funds a team effort; armed with trucks, vans, and holiday spirit, they visit a host of area retailers that have largely agreed to offer discounts. There was no way for Miss Brice to know on that day in 2006 how many thousands of lives she would affect over the years from her seemingly small, kind gesture.

Learn more about The Greene Turtle, their locations, menu, everyday military discount, and other specials/events on MilitaryBridge

blog comments powered by Disqus