Two long-standing Owensboro restaurants recently raised more than $17,000 to go toward local nonprofits and charities. Big Dipper raised $9,077 to donate to a variety of organizations, while Wonder Whip collected more than $8,325 for the Goodfellows Club of Owensboro.
Big Dipper collected the money over the course of the year. According to manager Sherry Ashby, money and change given to employees as tips were conserved and dispersed at the end of the year.
The restaurant purchased more than $7,900 worth of hams and grocery items for the Help Office, Salvation Army, Pitino Shelter and other agencies. More than $1,000 will be used to purchase more items for those organizations, while another $1,000 will go to the Salvation Army Kettle Fund. Big Dipper also donated a refrigerator to the Salvation Army worth $1,000.
Ashby said Big Dipper’s owners — Robert Osborne and his family — have continued a long-standing tradition of giving back during the holiday season.
“He’s helped all of his employees. He wants to help all the organizations,” Ashby said. “He asks around and goes to all the local charities he can. He asks what they need.”
Distributors gave Osborne a discount for some of the items he wanted to donate, Ashby said.
At Wonder Whip, the local restaurant donated 100% of all of sales on Dec. 10 to the Goodfellows Club of Owensboro, which supports local children in need.
“Special thanks to our employees for answering the bell on what turned out to be a very memorable day,” the restaurant posted on Facebook. “And to our guests for their patience and kindness, who still decided to support the event despite the long lines.”
Prior to the event, Wonder Whip owner/operator Seth Woodward said their business was growing, and we feel that it is very important that we give back to the community that has given us so much support,” Woodward said. “The Goodfellows Club has been doing amazing work in our community since 1916. We want to support the Goodfellows Club specifically because 100% of the money they raise goes directly to children in our community. Children have been majorly impacted by the pandemic, and we hope our donation can help make this year just a little bit brighter for some of them.”
