Restaurant donates proceeds to victims

Hurricane Katrina hit close to home for Cindy Greenwell and her family. So she is planning a special dinner to be held Monday at her Harlem restaurant, BGs, to help those in need.

"My husband and I are from the Mississippi Gulf Coast,'' Greenwell said. "We have family affected by this."

All proceeds from the benefit will go to hurricane relief efforts in cooperation with the city of Harlem, the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross.

"My own staff is donating their time and tips," Greenwell said. "They will get nothing for it but satisfaction."

The event will feature city of Harlem celebrities and other area celebrities waiting tables.

"We have (County Commission Chairman) Ron Cross, and (former Columbia County News-Times news editor and current editor of The McDuffie Mirror) Jason Smith scheduled for the evening shift," Greenwell said. "We are looking for more celebrities to donate an hour or more of their time."

Greenwell said the daytime special will be a po' boy sandwich in honor of the Gulf Coast. Marinated ribeye and a gourmet seafood entree will be on the menu that night. Greenwell's daughter will be preparing homemade desserts, including cheesecakes.

"We want people to help us in this cause," Greenwell said. "We feel like this is a very small effort in a dire need and we're going to give it all we've got."

The event will be held at BGs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with the gourmet dinner served from 5-9 p.m. BGs is requesting reservations for the dinner.

The restaurant is located on Old Louisville Road, Harlem's main street, across from the police station. For more information, call BGs at 556-1200, or the Laurel and Hardy Museum at 556-0401.