GreenJackets will serve for a good cause

The Augusta GreenJackets will trade their bats and gloves for serving trays Monday.

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About 15 players are expected at Stonecrest Southern Steakhouse in North Belair Square for the "Tip a GreenJacket" luncheon to benefit Golden Harvest Food Bank.

The GreenJackets will serve lunch and sign autographs.

The luncheon costs $25. Patrons also are asked to tip players. The event includes a raffle and silent auction. All proceeds will benefit Golden Harvest, which provides food to agencies and families in need throughout the Augusta area.

Patrick McMaster, the GreenJackets corporate partnerships manager, said Wednesday the event had sold about half of his 75-ticket goal. No advance purchase is necessary.

Fans can purchase tickets on site Monday. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

"We work with a lot of nonprofits here at the stadium," McMaster said. "This is one of the few we've done outside the gates."

Golden Harvest regularly holds food drives with businesses, schools and churches in the area. The event at Stonecrest will be the first of its kind. The idea was hatched through an existing partnership between Stonecrest and the GreenJackets.

Mark Herbert, part-owner of the restaurant, had worked with Golden Harvest in the past and it was chosen as the beneficiary of the fund-raiser.

"It's a brand new event for this year," said Carrie Jones, Golden Harvest's events and food drive coordinator. "We're hoping for the best."

Golden Harvest held "Cans for Caps" Food Drive Night at Lake Olmstead Stadium on Friday during the GreenJackets game.

Fans were given a GreenJackets cap in exchange for five or more cans of food.