Wheeling restaurants join forces to collect food for local pantry

Forget clipping coupons - bringing a food item to a Wheeling restaurant may be the best way to save money in March.

Starting on Monday, about 20 Wheeling restaurants will participate in the "Dine Global, Give Local" campaign to build up the food pantry at St. Joseph the Worker Church.

Every person who brings in a nonperishable food item will get a special deal at the participating restaurants. Restaurants from El Famous Burrito to Bob Chinn's Crab House are participating and most are located along Milwaukee Avenue and Dundee Road.

"Each of the restaurants if offering a different type of deal, some are giving a free appetizer, some are giving away a free dessert and some are giving away coupons," said Cathy Powers, executive director of the Wheeling-Prospect Heights Chamber of Commerce.

Restaurants are also hosting special deals throughout the month. Hackney's will serve up corned beef and cabbage, Irish lamb stew and leprechaun pie on March 14. Market Square Restaurant will host Greek Day on March 23 and Tuscany Wheeling will feature a special four-course Italian dinner on March 24.

"We have all these great restaurants that serve food from different places all over the world, we thought this would be a great way to benefit our local food pantry," said Dru Garcia, Wheeling's business development coordinator.

Other participating restaurants are Buca di Beppo, Chicago Bagel & Bialy II, Classic China, Edwardo's Natural Pizza, Golden Chef Restaurant, Las Islas Marinas, Lana's Dazzling Desserts, Nibbles Play Cafe, Pete Miller's, The RAM Restaurant, Rise 'n' Dine Pancake House, Sushi Gallery, TGI Friday's and Wa-Pa-Ghetti's Pizza.

For details, go to dineglobalgivelocal.com.