An East Bay veterans group is taking money raised during their annual fundraiser and helping a local restaurant stay afloat during the COVID-19 crisis instead.
Each week, Gianni’s Italian Bistro in San Ramon hosts a "Tips for Change" event where they collect money to donate to local nonprofit groups, including the Viet Nam Veterans of Diablo Valley.
This year, president Dennis Giacovelli said they’re handing all the tips to the restaurant.
"We have been the beneficiary of this event for the last five to six years, so we’ve been with them a while and I don’t want to lose them," Giacovelli said.
Since 2014, Gianni’s has raised more than $600,000 for a number of causes.
This time the cause is focused on keeping their doors open following two stay-at-home orders, co-owner Melanie Bartoletti told KCBS Radio.
"It’s been tough to go from a fine dining experience to packaging up and taking out, but we’re hanging in there," Bartoletti said.
Members of the veterans' group were at the restaurant this month to help hand out curbside pick up orders and collect tips. Giacovelli said Gianni’s holds a special place in his heart. "I moved here in 2002. This is one of the first restaurants I came to, so we feel for them. We’d like to do our part, as small as it is, anything we can," Giacovelli said.
Because indoor dining isn’t allowed, Gianni’s has outdoor tents set up on the pavement. Bartoletti said they recently had to lay off their some of their serving staff, so these tips from the veterans are really going to help.
"They’re a great group of people. We just feel so blessed to have so many people in our community that are wonderful and giving back. It feels great," she said.
Giacovelli said they’re all about serving others - whether they’re protecting our country or giving back to help small business owners survive.
"Our motto is 'Never stop serving,' so we do that all year. We do that for other veterans, for active military and the community here," he added.
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