Neighborhood Spotlight: Restaurant Teams Feeding Hundreds of Local Neighborhood Heroes in NJ and FL

April 29, 2020

Applebee’s® franchisees, like Doherty Enterprises, are finding ways to connect with and support their neighbors and team members, as well as their local heroes on the frontlines during this difficult time. Doherty’s local Applebee’s restaurant team in Woodbridge, NJ recently reached out to the nurses, doctors, technicians and environmental services personnel at Raritan Bay Medical Center Foundation in Old Bridge, NJ, and donated 50 meals to the courageous team. In Venice, Florida the team partnered with the community to feed more than 1,000 local heroes in two separate events and plan on feeding another 1,000 heroes on Saturday, May 2 with the help of local businesses and donations. In Delray, Florida the local Applebee’s team delivered Takeout to healthcare workers at the Delray Medical Center, partnered with Home Depot to feed first responders and last week they had a second event to support the community by generously donating more than 200 meals to the essential workers on the frontlines. Volunteers loaded their cars with delicious Applebee’s meals such as the Chicken Tenders Platter and Classic Cheeseburger with Classic Fries from Applebee’s and pizza from another local restaurant.

The courage, commitment and dedication of the men and women at the frontlines in this healthcare crisis is profound, and we’re proud of the local Applebee’s teams for providing them with a great meal.

Doherty Enterprises was the 2019 recipient of Applebee’s Lloyd Hill Neighbor of the Year award. This award, named after one of the brand’s historic leaders, celebrates an Applebee’s franchisee that has displayed a tremendous amount of love, compassion, and care for their neighbors through a variety of causes, activities and initiatives. Doherty Enterprises, an Applebee’s franchisee for 29 years, won for embodying what it means to be a good neighbor by lending a helping hand in their local communities. Their constant giving is evident in the nearly 3,000 fundraisers and community events they host in an average year, and the more than $2 million raised and donated to their surrounding communities through initiatives like classroom supply donations, Toys for Tots and their own employee support program, “WOW a Friend.”

Since its beginning, Doherty Enterprises’ has been committed to Doin' Good in the Neighborhood^SM. Click here to watch this 2019 story honoring Doherty Enterprises.

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