Families urged to dine out on September 1 to support SOS Children's Villages kids

The Latvian SOS Children's Villages Association is encouraging families to celebrate the start of the new school year on September 1 by having a festive lunch or dinner at cafés and restaurants participating in the charity campaign "Bring your loved ones to a restaurant and help others get to school!". Participating venues have committed to donating part of that day's revenue to support children in families under the association's care as they prepare for school.

This year more than 80 restaurants and cafés across Latvia have joined the campaign, including establishments in Riga, Jūrmala, Valmiera, Liepāja, Mārupe, Bauska and Talsi municipality. Among the participants are the restaurant "Tam labam būs augt", "Annas Dārzs", Fazenda in Āgenskalns, Pavāru māja, and the "Hesburger" chain. The association has published a full list and map of participating venues on its website.

Bauska restaurant joins for the eighth year

In Bauska, the campaign has for several years been supported by "Mūza", the restaurant of the «Rija Bauska Hotel», which has taken part since September 1, 2018. Each year the restaurant donates part of that day's turnover to help SOS families buy school supplies and other necessary items.

Ilze Paleja, director of the Latvian SOS Children's Villages Association, expressed satisfaction that so many restaurants again chose to turn their customers' meals into support for children. She said the campaign shows how choosing to eat together at a participating restaurant while marking the new school year can help a child start school with the support they need and the feeling that they are not alone.

The Latvian SOS Children's Villages Association is a non-governmental charity that provides long-term family-based care for children without parental care. It also runs family support centers and the out-of-family care support center "Airi vecākiem". Across two SOS Children's Villages, in Bauska and Valmiera, along with integrated SOS families and youth homes in Jelgava and Riga, 130 children and young people from across Latvia have found support, safety and a new home. In total, the association's various support programs help more than 2,000 children each year.