MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — An annual event that involves Morgantown area restaurants to help donate to a charitable cause is about to kick off on Monday.
Unique specials and food dishes will be served starting on Tuesday, June 17, as part of the new Tri-County Walk to End Alzheimer’s Restaurant Week. Organizer Janet Williams encourages Morgantown area residents to check out the participating restaurants located in Star City, Westover, and Morgantown itself, where all proceeds will support Alzheimer’s research.
“We put together a really great slate of very generous business owners who have agreed to donate a portion of their proceeds to the Tri-County Walk to End Alzheimer’s here in Morgantown,” said Restaurant Week organizer Janet Williams.
Westover-based restaurant Hometown Hotdogs will kick off Restaurant Week, where anyone who enters the local business during lunch hours on Tuesday will just simply ask an employee that they wish to donate towards the Tri-County Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The same will be done for each business that takes part in Restaurant Week, with one local eatery taking part each day throughout the week. Williams encourages residents who wish to participate to take note of any lunchtime rush hours or certain aspects of participating restaurants.
“Hometown Hotdogs on Dunkard Avenue in Westover, they will give us some money from your sale, and it’s cash only (at the shop),” said Williams. “Don’t take your credit card (there), stop at the ATM first.”
According to Williams, certain restaurants will make unique dishes to go along with the theme to support Alzheimer’s research. Terra Cafe is among those who have advertised a special fish-themed meal aimed to support brain activity. This follows similar food releases that have involved local businesses that participated in restaurant weeks in the past.
“The reason why we’re doing it in June is because June has been designated as Brain Health Awareness Month,” said Williams. “So Terra Cafe is looking at coming up with some good fish dishes for that day.”
The proceeds from restaurant week will be combined with other fundraisers that will take place ahead of the 2025 Tri-County Walk to End Alzheimer’s. This includes the Drive Out Charity Gold Scramble that will take place on July 19 at the Preston County Golf Club and numerous benefit dinners that will be scheduled in the months ahead of the walk that will take place on Sunday, October 19. With all proceeds directly supporting research on a disease that affects over 57 million people worldwide and thousands in the Mountain State, Williams hopes anyone planning to eat out this week will give these local eateries a shot.
“You might want to tell these people that you’re here because you support them supporting Alzheimer’s (research),” said Williams. “Let them know that they’re doing good work and we appreciate it.”