Submitted by Robbie Kepic

GULF SHORES, Ala. –LongHorn is a member of the Darden Restaurant group which is the world's largest casual-dining restaurant company.

Like most restaurants, the Darden group grappled for years with the problem of food waste; particularly with the uncomfortable dilemma of throwing away food that was perfectly good and safe to eat.

In 2003, Darden partnered with Food Donation Connection, a national network that works with restaurants and other food service companies to distribute high-quality, prepared foods to hunger-relief organizations across the United States, and established a pilot program to harvest this excess food.

The program grew into a companywide effort the following year and became known as the Darden Harvest food donation program.

Locally, the Christian Service Center receives weekly frozen food donations from the Gulf Shores LongHorn Steakhouse and distributes the donations to clients in need. LongHorn has contributed an average of 127 pounds of food per week since March 3, 2008. The donations consist of rib-eye and prime rib trimmings, baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, bread, chicken, fish, soups and sauces.

LongHorn is also a sponsor of the CSC annual Spaghetti Dinner contributing 750 salads to the February, 2012 dinner. This salad donation also includes LongHorn employees coming in early to wash, cut and prepare the salads. Manager Michael Pippin says LongHorn is very happy to help the Christian Service Center make an impact on our local community and they look forward to helping any way they can.

In its 21st year, the Christian Service Center is a “Hand Up” rather than a “Hand Out” agency. Clients are given immediate emergency aid as well as guidance on finding solutions to problems. The CSC is a 100 percent volunteer agency funded by the churches of Pleasure Island, various community organizations, including the United Way of Baldwin County, and interested individuals.

For more information please call the CSC at 251-968-5256 or visit our web page, www.cscgs.com.