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Get RSS FeedFrom Greece to Haiti: Whitehall eatery raises $2,087
* King Gyros opens on a Sunday for its fundraiser.
By KEVIN CORVO
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Sunday is the only day off for a Whitehall business owner, but he and his employees donated their time Sunday, Feb. 20, to raise money for earthquake relief in Haiti through Lifeline Christian Ministries.
Yanni Chalkias, 44, owner of King Gyros Greek Restaurant, 400 S. Hamilton Road, opened his doors for six hours Feb. 20 and raised $2,087 for Haiti, where an estimated 225,000 were killed in Jan. 12's earthquake.
In an event billed as "Gyros for Haiti," Chalkias donated his product and his employees donated their time. All nine of his employees worked Feb. 20 and all sales during the day were donated to earthquake relief in Haiti.
"I was thinking about how we could help and I talked to my employees about it, too," Chalkias said.
Yanni Chalkias, 44, owner of King Gyros Greek Restaurant, 400 S. Hamilton Road, opened his doors for six hours Feb. 20 and raised $2,087 for Haiti, where an estimated 225,000 were killed in Jan. 12's earthquake.
In an event billed as "Gyros for Haiti," Chalkias donated his product and his employees donated their time. All nine of his employees worked Feb. 20 and all sales during the day were donated to earthquake relief in Haiti.
"I was thinking about how we could help and I talked to my employees about it, too," Chalkias said.
They discussed making their own donations, then settled on having the special event, he said.
"I first thought about donating a portion of sales, but then decided to open on a Sunday and donate all the sales," he said.
Chalkias said the event was well-received.
"People came from as far away as Marysville," said Chalkias.
Chalkias, who was born in Greece and moved to the United States at the age of 10, said he held the fundraiser because he and his employees saw a need.
"I also want to be active in my community," said Chalkias, a self-taught chef whose family operated restaurants since moving to the United States.
His father operated Vaso's Greek Restaurant at East Broad Street and Yearling Road. It closed in 1992.
Chalkias has operated King Gyros at its current site since 1991. The restaurant has won several awards, including "Best Mediterranean in Columbus" for 2009 from Citysearch.
Mariah Brown, 18, an employee at King Gyros, said she hoped the effort would serve as an example for others.
"By doing this, maybe others will help, too," Brown said. "We raised more than $2,000 and it felt good to help."
"I first thought about donating a portion of sales, but then decided to open on a Sunday and donate all the sales," he said.
Chalkias said the event was well-received.
"People came from as far away as Marysville," said Chalkias.
Chalkias, who was born in Greece and moved to the United States at the age of 10, said he held the fundraiser because he and his employees saw a need.
"I also want to be active in my community," said Chalkias, a self-taught chef whose family operated restaurants since moving to the United States.
His father operated Vaso's Greek Restaurant at East Broad Street and Yearling Road. It closed in 1992.
Chalkias has operated King Gyros at its current site since 1991. The restaurant has won several awards, including "Best Mediterranean in Columbus" for 2009 from Citysearch.
Mariah Brown, 18, an employee at King Gyros, said she hoped the effort would serve as an example for others.
"By doing this, maybe others will help, too," Brown said. "We raised more than $2,000 and it felt good to help."
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