Community
When Life Gives You Lemon – You Make a Sandwich! Pucker Up for Pride Month with a Free Sandwich from SkipTheDishes and Canadian Drag Superstar Lemon
Skip partners with Canada’s Drag Race’s Lemon to create an exclusive sandwich with Grandma Loves You to be handed out to consumers for free at Glad Day Bookshop on June 2
TORONTO /CNW/ – SkipTheDishes, Canada’s largest food delivery network has been werking on something special to give back to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community! This Pride Month, Skip has joined forces with zesty Canadian Drag Superstar and viral sensation Lemon, of Canada’s Drag Race, and local restaurant favourite Grandma Loves You, to curate an exclusive sandwich available all month long with $1 from every six-inch and $2 from every footlong sub going to Friends of Ruby, a welcoming space in Toronto for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth (aged 16-29) dedicated to their progressive well-being through mental health services, social services, and housing. To top it all off, customers can enjoy $0 delivery from Grandma Loves You with a minimum order for a limited time – talk about a slay.
“Pride Month is such an exciting time with so many celebrations. I know how easy it is to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of it all – so what better way to keep the party going than with convenient and affordable eats from Skip!” says Lemon. “Knowing this initiative will do so much more than satisfy cravings, and will help Friends of Ruby to provide programs and services to youth in need – it was a no brainer!”
Zesties – be sweet, not sour – consumers can Come Through to try the sandwich for free on Friday, June 2, 2023 at Glad Day Bookshop from 11am until 4pm (while quantities last).
Starting June 1st, the limited-edition custom sandwich will also be available for purchase through the Skip app all month long! Talk about the ultimate serve.
Event Details:
- Date: Friday, June 2nd, 2023
- Location: Glad Day Bookshop, 499 Church St, Toronto, ON M4Y 2C6
- Time: 11am – 4pm (or while quantities last)
In true Lemon style, the sandwich is a nod to her signature flavour. The Zestie Bestie Caesar Sub is piled higher than your best pair of heels, topped with avocado, freshly squeezed lemon caesar dressing, lettuce, hot peppers, crispy onion, and fresh parmesan. The Zestie Bestie Caesar Sub will be available exclusively through Grandma Loves You on Skip for pick-up or $0 delivery with a minimum order for the month of June. In addition to $2 from every 12-inch and $1 from every 6-inch sub sold throughout June going to Friends of Ruby thanks to Grandma Loves You, Skip will also be donating $20,000 to Friends of Ruby to help vulnerable youth in our communities feel seen and supported through access to mental health services, practical supports, and housing.
“As we celebrate Pride Month, we’re excited to deliver so much more than great delivery through this partnership,” says Melanie Fatouros-Richardson, Head of Communications at Skip. “Skip is a long-standing supporter of 2SLGBTQIA+ organisations working to improve inclusion and equality from coast to coast, and we’re proud to deepen our commitment to increasing visibility and resources for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. We’re always looking for new and meaningful ways to give back to the communities we serve and are proud to help support the work Friends of Ruby is doing for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth in need.”
About Skip
SkipTheDishes is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com, a leading global online food delivery marketplace. SkipTheDishes connects millions of customers with over 50,000 Restaurant Partners in Canada.
About Friends of Ruby
Friends of Ruby is dedicated to the progressive well-being of 2SLGBQTIA+ youth (aged 16-29) through mental health & wellness support, case management and practical support services, social services, and housing. – Our vision is a world where all Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual young people feel validated, involved, and empowered to lead healthier lives. Our approach is comprehensive, involving mind, body, and community. We provide youth with resources related to their sexuality & gender identity, sexual health, social connections, transgender supports, food & basic needs, housing, income support, advocacy, life skills, healthcare, legal support, employment & planning. Learn more about Friends of Ruby at friendsofruby.ca.
SOURCE SkipTheDishes
Lifestyle
P.F. Chang’s Partners With Starlight Children’s Foundation for New “Spirit of the Zodiac” Giving Campaign
P.F. Chang’s launches Spirit of the Zodiac, a giving campaign supporting Starlight Children’s Foundation with Bao plush purchases and in-restaurant donations.
P.F. Chang’s Launches Spirit of the Zodiac Campaign to Support Starlight Children’s Foundation
P.F. Chang’s is launching a new annual charitable initiative designed to bring comfort to children during hospital stays. The Scottsdale-based restaurant brand announced Spirit of the Zodiac, a giving program inspired by the Chinese zodiac, with its inaugural campaign—Year of the Fire Horse: Spirit of Strength—benefiting Starlight Children’s Foundation.
What the campaign supports
Starlight Children’s Foundation serves more than 800 children’s hospitals nationwide, providing programs such as toy deliveries, hospital gowns, gaming stations, and other experiences intended to help kids feel more comfortable, connected, and supported during medical care.
How guests can participate (Sept. 2–Sept. 30)
From September 2 through September 30, 2026, guests can purchase Bao, a limited-edition horse plushie, for $10 through dine-in transactions at participating P.F. Chang’s restaurants (while supplies last). For each Bao purchased, P.F. Chang’s will donate an identical Bao plushie to Starlight for distribution through its hospital network—up to 20,000 donated plushies.
Guests can also support the campaign by rounding up their checks or making a direct donation in restaurant. The overall effort aims to raise $500,000 to support Starlight’s work with children and families.
Bonus offer for donors
P.F. Chang’s says guests who purchase Bao or make an in-restaurant donation of $10 or more to Starlight will receive an offer for a complimentary appetizer with the purchase of an entrée on a future dine-in visit, valid through October 31, 2026 (restrictions apply; participating locations only).
A story component for families
The campaign also includes a storytelling element: Bao’s journey will be featured in a digital story and an original children’s book by author Jenny Liao and illustrator Adriane Tsai, expected to publish later this month.
What to watch for
P.F. Chang’s and Starlight plan to continue the partnership beyond September, including in-hospital catering and plush deliveries in early October.
For more information, visit www.pfchangs.com/offers/spirit-of-the-zodiac. To learn more about the partnership, visit starlight.org/pfchangs.
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Community
9/11 Day Awards $3 Million in Grants to Expand Volunteer Opportunities Nationwide Ahead of 25th Anniversary
9/11 Day announced $3 million in grants to nearly 200 groups across 40 states, expanding service projects for the 25th anniversary observance.
As the United States approaches the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, the nonprofit 9/11 Day is putting major resources behind a familiar idea with renewed urgency: remembrance through service. The organization—founded by 9/11 families and leaders and co-led by co-founders David Paine and Jay Winuk—announced $3 million in grants to roughly 200 nonprofits, schools, and community groups across 40 states to expand local volunteer projects tied to this year’s September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.
The funding is designed to dramatically increase the number of ways Americans can participate close to home, from food insecurity initiatives to neighborhood cleanups and support programs for veterans and first responders. Together, grant recipients are expected to engage more than 70,000 volunteers nationwide.
A major push toward youth-led service
More than 70% of the grant funding is going to youth organizations and educational institutions, including K–12 schools, universities, and other learning programs. The emphasis reflects a generational reality: millions of students today know 9/11 primarily through textbooks, family stories, and classroom lessons.
“For many students participating in the observance this year, 9/11 is something they’ve only encountered in textbooks or through stories from parents and grandparents,” said Jay Winuk, co-founder and executive vice president of 9/11 Day and a 9/11 family member. “By connecting history with hands-on service, we’re helping young people understand that the legacy of 9/11 isn’t defined only by tragedy. It’s also defined by compassion, resilience and the responsibility we all share to care for one another.”
Youth-focused projects supported by the grants include school-wide days of service, hunger-relief efforts, donation drives, community improvement work, and service-learning initiatives that connect the history of September 11 with practical ways to help others.
UNIITE for Good: turning an anniversary into a nationwide “doing good” moment
The grant program is a cornerstone of 9/11 Day’s nationwide UNIITE for Good campaign, scheduled to officially launch August 24. The campaign aims to transform the 25th anniversary into what organizers describe as America’s largest day of doing good—channeling remembrance into tangible community impact.
The program is administered in collaboration with AmeriCorps, with principal funding provided by AmeriCorps and the Popeyes Foundation. A special emphasis this year is addressing hunger—an issue described in the release as an “ever-growing hunger crisis across the nation.”
Meeting community needs where people live
Grant-funded projects span urban, suburban, and rural communities. Activities include assembling meals for individuals and families facing food insecurity, packing care kits for veterans and first responders, restoring community spaces, and strengthening schools and neighborhoods.
Beyond the service itself, the grants are also intended to help local groups recruit volunteers, purchase supplies, coordinate logistics, and expand the number of service opportunities available in their areas.
“As we mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we have a responsibility to preserve not only the memory of that day and those lost and injured, but also the extraordinary way Americans came together in the aftermath of the attacks,” said David Paine, president and co-founder of 9/11 Day. “These community-led projects are helping rekindle that spirit of unity, compassion and service by bringing neighbors together to help solve local challenges.”
AmeriCorps echoed that message, framing service as a way to honor those who responded in the immediate aftermath of the attacks.
“This year, we invite Americans to carry forward that enduring spirit of unity and service by becoming a hero for someone in need,” said Emily Stock, project manager for Volunteer Initiatives at AmeriCorps, noting that AmeriCorps-funded projects will include food drives, home repairs, neighborhood cleanups, and disaster preparedness activities.
The Popeyes Foundation also highlighted its community-focused mission and its role in supporting local projects.
Why this anniversary matters now
Organizers say the 25th anniversary arrives at a pivotal moment: more than 100 million Americans are now too young to have personal memories of September 11. That makes this milestone one of the last major opportunities to connect those who lived through the day with younger generations learning about it as history.
Examples of grant-supported efforts include:
- Marshall University, which plans to build on its existing 9/11 Days of Service tradition, including a Memorial Stair Challenge and volunteer projects supporting veterans, first responders, and families in need.
- Middlebury Elementary School, which will expand hands-on service activities that teach younger students about 9/11 through compassion and community action.
- University of South Dakota, where students will work alongside community partners to address local needs while learning how service can bridge backgrounds and perspectives.
How to get involved
A full list of 2026 9/11 Day Grant Program recipients is available through 9/11 Day. To learn more about the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance—and to find ways to participate—visit 911day.org.
STM Daily News will continue tracking community service initiatives and local observances tied to the 25th anniversary as September approaches
Community
Kia and its Dealers Expand Community Giving Nationwide
Expand Community Giving Nationwide: Kia announced its fifth annual “Accelerate the Good” dealer match program, which supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The program also donates to other organizations that make a positive impact in their communities.
Kia and its Dealers Expand Community Giving Nationwide
(Feature Impact) Families often arrive at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with a tough road ahead. Their child has been diagnosed with cancer, and they’re navigating a complex treatment plan. One thing that families don’t have to worry about is how they’ll pay for this upheaval to their lives. In 2026, Kia donated $2 million to St. Jude to help ensure families don’t receive a bill for medical costs, housing or food during treatment.
Watch this video to learn more
Kia announced its fifth annual “Accelerate the Good” dealer match program, which supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The program also donates to other organizations that make a positive impact in their communities.
Donations from a network of nearly 800 dealers support organizations such as No Kid Hungry, Toys for Tots, Operation Homefront and several other groups dedicated to children’s health, hunger relief, disaster response and veterans’ well-being. Kia employees also lead volunteer efforts to benefit community pantries, beach cleanups and clothing drives.
“The continued success of our ‘Accelerate the Good’ initiative reflects the shared commitment of Kia and our nationwide retailer network to invest in the communities we serve,” said SeungKyu (Sean) Yoon, president and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America. “Together, we are proud to support organizations that deliver lifesaving care, strengthen families, fight hunger and create meaningful opportunities for people across the country.”
Ahead of September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Kia and its dealers have reached an important milestone: more than $7.7 million donated to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in four years. The donations are part of Kia’s broader community giving initiatives.
To learn more about how Kia is accelerating good in their communities, visit kia.com.
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