Final ‘Food for Tots’ comes to the Tri-town

Nov 3, 2018

Jill Fearons, the Mattapoisett organizer of the popular restaurant fundraiser “Food for Tots,” which benefits Southcoast Health pediatrics department, is taking advantage of National Philanthropy Day on Nov. 15 for the fundraiser’s grand finale. 

Restaurants across the Southcoast have participated in the nine month fundraiser, which started in April and featured different Southcoast restaurants each month. On Nov. 15 more than 30 restaurants will participate again.

"What they do is donate all day long, one day out of the month, 15 percent of total sales, alcohol included," Fearons said to describe restaurants’ role in the fundraiser.

The fundraiser has earned Southcoast Health $63,000 so far, and Fearons has a goal of $100,000.

In the Tri-town Atlantic Bistro and Brew Fish in Marion and The Inn on Ship Yard Park, Nick’s Pizza and Turk’s Seafood in Mattapoisett will participate.   

Fearons had a very personal motivation to start the fundraiser. Her son Jack had a brain illness, and though he was initially treated at Southcoast Pediatrics, he was eventually transferred to Boston Children’s Hospital, where he stayed for months.

"Our goal is to grow the [Southcoast] pediatrics emergency department, open it 24-hours per day, increase the bed capacity, everything, which is where all this funding goes to," Fearons said. "We don't want people to have to leave the South Coast to get this sort of care.”

Food for Tots has gotten support from popular radio personality Michael Rock of FUN107 and from WBSM. Boston Children’s Physicians is also collaborating on the project.

The fundraiser has also gotten special support from several local businesses. Although On the Go in Mattapoisett will not participate on Nov. 15, it has donated 15 percent of its sales to the fundraiser every Tuesday.

Windswept and Yard Boss have served as match donors for the fundraiser, pledging to match $2,500 and $5,000 of donations, respectively. Yard Boss will also serve as a match donor for the November version of the fundraiser.