ST. LOUIS, MO (KPLR)—
It started Tuesday and continues through Wednesday: a major push in St. Louis that could raise tens of thousands of dollars for Haiti relief efforts, and it all began with an idea from a local entrepreneur. It has picked up speed at a breakneck pace.Its about helping Haiti, says Gene Bentrup, standing outside of his Splish Splash Car Wash at Hampton and Watson in South City. It just destroys me really that people have to suffer like that. Its just, I dont understand it. Its really tough for me to understand.
Like so many Americans, Bentrup felt moved to do something. He knew he could write a check. But that wasnt good enough. I wanted to involve my customers, he says. So were going to put out a bucket and let you wash your car for a donation.
And then were putting people on the street corner and collect money.
Bentrup also owns the Sinclair gas station across the street. Hes donating proceeds from there, too.
He decided to ask a few friends who own restaurants if they wanted to help, too.
We called one restaurant, then that restaurant would call someone and then another restaurant would call us, and it kept multiplying, he says.
The list is now huge: Imo's Pizza- Numerous locationsÂ…. CJ Muggs- 101 W. Lockwood 63119 and 200 S. Central 63105Â….Weber's Front Row- 8169 North Big Bend Boulevard 63119Â….The Alpine Shop- 440 North Kirkwood RdÂ….Lusso- 165 Carondelet PlazaÂ….Llewellyn's Pub- 4747 McPherson Ave. 63108, 1732 9th Street 63104, 17 Moody 63119Â….Chris's Pancake House- 5980 Southwest Avenue 63139Â….Helen Fitzgeralds- 3650 S Lindbergh Blvd. 63127Â….Cafe Napoli- 7754 Forsyth Boulevard 63105Â….Cafe Napoli II- 1054 Town and Country CrossingsÂ…..Oceano Bistro- 44 North Brentwood Boulevard, 63105Â…..Dominic's- 5101 Wilson AvenueÂ….Tortillaria- 8 South Euclid Avenue 63108Â….Dubliner's- 1025 Washington Avenue 63101Â….Terrene Restaurant - 33 N. Sarah Street - THURSDAY JANUARY 21Â….Sugo's Spaghetteria - 10419 Clayton RdÂ….Sinclair Convenience Store- Hampton and WatsonÂ…..Service Protection Direct- 300 North Tucker BoulevardÂ…..Marathon Insurance CompanyÂ….Numerous anonymous restaurants on the Hill
Sybergs four locations took part Tuesday. 100 percent of our profits from the sale of wings went to the Hands Together non profit organization for Haiti relief. And Wednesday, Helen Fitzgerald's will be doing the same thing, says Nick DeWald, manager of the Sybergs in Maryland Heights.
Customer Nelson Pinero ordered wings simply because of the promotion. In fact, he ate at Sybergs simply because of it. Hes from Dallas, visiting St. Louis for business.
"I saw the news this morning, saw the story about what Sybergs was doing for the relief for Haiti and I decided, Im out here for business, in territory I dont know, so I might as well go have some wings and help the relief effort."
They were fantastic by the way, he adds.
DeWald says they lost count of the chicken wings orders they sold Tuesday, but he calls it a remarkable success.
Its just about looking at the bigger picture outside the city, and whats going on in the world around us.
