The 10 Venango County restaurants that have received $500 apiece from a county business are indeed “paying it forward” as the business had hoped.
Voyten Electric in Sandycreek Township said in a social media post that “as a community we need to help each other. If you are a business and open, try and help one that is not.”
The restaurants chosen to get the money were Double Play, McNerney’s and Grandview Grille’s Fat Dogs in Oil City, Log Cabin and Stillers Meats & Smokehouse in Seneca, JP’s ‘Tickle My Ribs’ BBQ, Linda Lou’s, Subway and Liberty Street Ale House in Franklin and Country Grub in Polk.
And that appears to be the case as the restaurants have posted on social media that they are providing food to first responders, hospital workers, employees at businesses that have remained open and are serving the community, and others.
Nightingale said his workers voted on which restaurants they wanted to receive the cash.
“It was hard. From winners to someone who didn’t get it were only one or two votes.” Nightingale said.
Voyten originally announced it would award the cash to six restaurants. The company added two more winners after a quick response from Liberty Street Ale House and Double Play.
Then Linda Lou’s and Subway were added after Voyten noticed in social media posts those two restaurants were already giving away food in the community.
“They had all these ideas and they were a great cause and were all different,” Nightingale said. “A couple of the winners have done stuff and haven’t even picked up the money yet.”
“We hope that when this is said and done, people remember that and go to the restaurants and support them because there are going to be some rough times ahead,” Nightingale said.
Nightingale said he hopes other businesses in the area pull together to help the community.
“We don’t care if it’s restaurants, we don’t care if it’s retail, if your lights are on try and help out,” Nightingale said.
