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What’s on Tap this Week? Water!

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Make it a point to visit one of your local restaurants, even if the only thing you order is water.

This week, water is selling for a buck a glass, but the money is going toward a good cause. Sunday marked the beginning of “Tap Week,” where restaurants around the country ask patrons to donate $1 (or more) for the water they are usually served free of charge. All funds raised through March 28 will support the Tap Project of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), an undertaking that provides sanitary drinking water for children around the world. Every dollar raised will enable a child to have uncontaminated drinking water for approximately 40 days.

The Tap Project started in 2007 in New York City with just 300 participating restaurants. In 2008, the effort went nationwide, with the number of restaurants jumping to 2,300 in 44 states. Almost $1 million was raised, which helped provide clean water and sanitation facilities to children in Iraq, Côte d’Ivoire, Nicaragua and Belize. This year, the number should be even greater, once the final tally is in. The Tap Project has also become international, with many other countries getting on board.

Cities large and small are participating in the Tap Project.

In Atlanta, Georgia, more than 25 restaurants in the metro area signed up for the program. “It’s a very easy way to give to a very good cause,” said Kevin Maxey, executive chef at Craft Atlanta and spokesperson for Atlanta’s Tap Project.

In Bellevue, Kentucky, restaurant owners are placing cards on their tables to explain the project and show where the money goes. The Bellevue Bistro is participating in the project. “Customers just read the cards we have on the table and do it themselves. They think it’s a great cause. They put money on the card and leave it on the table,” said chef/owner Jeff Meiners said. “I’d like to raise a couple hundred this year”

“I might be inclined to leave $2 for the $1 glass of water because I think it’s a wonderful project,” diner Nancy Perry said.

More than 200 restaurants in New York City are participating in the Tap Project. Chris Cannon, owner of two award-winning Italian restaurants Alto and L’Impero, says that New Yorkers will respond very well to the Tap Project. “Since we’re a fancy restaurant, we get a lot of bottled water requests,”he says. “But we’re going to ask everybody to participate. It’s not going to be limited to tap water”

Richmond, Virginia is on board with more than 30 participating restaurants. “How can you not do this?” asked Frances Daniel, owner of the Mrs. Marshall’s Carytown Cafe. “We take for granted that the water we drink is clean. Not everyone has that luxury,” she said.

Scott Beck, co-owner and managing partner at Match, a popular eatery in Nowalk, Connecticut is going one-step farther. In addition to sponsoring the event, he has agreed to match donations made, up to $2,500. “It’s a great cause that helps children, and it really asks so little of the patrons,” said Beck.

The Tap Project is underwritten and sponsored by corporate donors, restaurants, advertising agencies, community groups, local governments and of course, everyday diners. The Strategic Hotel chain is promotion the Tap Project at all of its properties, inclusive of 50 restaurants and 5,000 hotel rooms.  Anyone donating $1 for glass of water this week can feel good about helping provide 40 days worth of water for a needy child.

To find a participating restaurants in your area go to http://www.tapproject.org/tap-in-your-city/. If you are a restaurant or individual who would like to donate to the Tap Project, you can find more about it here .

So drink up. This time it’s safe to drink and drive!

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