PASO ROBLES RESTAURANTEURS TO SUPPORT ECHO’S MEAL PROGRAM
Remaining Funds from Downtown Dining Program to Pay for Meals for Homeless

The Paso Robles restaurant community will rally together to help feed people facing hunger and homelessness as part of the last summer’s Downtown City Park Dining program. The remaining funds raised from the first of its kind program in Paso Robles are available to reimburse restaurants to prepare meals for El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) Paso Robles’ program that provides daily meals for the homeless population. Restaurants are still encouraged to sign up to be a part of this program, click here.

In the summer of 2020, the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, Travel Paso, Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, Paso Robles Main Street Association, and the Hispanic Business Association worked to create an al fresco dining experience during the pandemic to welcome both guests and locals back into Paso Robles. Embraced and supported by the City of Paso Robles, the Downtown City Park Dining program included 43 restaurants, helped to restore jobs in hospitality, and created a safe environment for residents and visitors alike to come together in a safe, outdoor setting. More than 7,000 patrons dined in the Downtown City Park as part of this program which was supported by 37 sponsors and vendors whose partnership made the program possible.

“The Downtown City Park Dining program was a great opportunity for our organizations to collaborate for the betterment of our community, which led to a very successful program that influenced jobs and revenue into our local economy,” said Joel Peterson, executive director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. “Through sponsorships and donations, funds necessary to operate the program were raised, and with the leftover dollars we want to continue the philanthropic spirit of those supporters.”

This collaboration of organizations and sponsors raised over $65,000 which were used to support the hard costs of the program. At the conclusion of the program, $6,500 was remaining which the organizations agreed should be used to help support ECHO Paso Robles’ efforts in providing nutritious meals.

“We are incredibly appreciative of the local business community in dedicating these funds to help support ECHO Paso Robles’ efforts in feeding people experiencing homelessness,” comments Wendy Lewis, President/CEO of ECHO. “The services provided by ECHO, including the community dinner program, help support our most vulnerable community members which include unhoused individuals and families.”

As this program is just rolling out, there is still an opportunity for restaurants to participate and support ECHO Paso Robles. Their participation is as simple as preparing meals which are reimbursed with funds from the Downtown City Park Dining program. Early brands to participate in the program or by providing meals for the ECHO Dinner program include Il Cortile, La Cosecha, and The Hatch. Click here to register your restaurant and learn more.

ABOUT El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) The ECHO Paso Robles community dinner service has provided over 10,500 meals to individuals experiencing homelessness and/or hunger since December of 2020. This has been possible only because of the local restaurants, faith groups, and community members who have come together to prepare nightly meals for the dinner service that takes place daily at the shelter, located at 1134 Black Oak Drive.

Restaurants provide meals for an average of 60 people each day. Meals are prepared off-site and delivered to the shelter each afternoon. Meal service runs daily from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. echoshelter.org

ABOUT HISPANIC BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (HBA) The HBA promotes Hispanic business and the Hispanic community growth and development through the promotion of economic programs designed to strengthen and expand the income potential of all business within the service area of the HBA. Promoting programs of civic, social, educational, and cultural nature which are designed to increase the functional and aesthetic values of the community at large. hba-cc.org

ABOUT PASO ROBLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce is a leader in strengthening the economic health and prosperity of Paso’s businesses and residents. The Chamber provides opportunities for business leaders to convene, connect, learn, advocate, and grow to foster a culture of engaged, committed, and successful businesses embracing the Paso Robles community. For more information, visit pasorobleschamber.com or @PasoChamber on Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT PASO ROBLES MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION Paso Robles Main Street Association is a non-profit corporation, established to actively restore, promote, and enhance the economic vitality and unique historical value of downtown Paso Robles, while maintaining a friendly, community atmosphere for all. For more information, visit pasoroblesdowntown.org or on Facebook @PasoRoblesDowntown or Instagram - @PRMainStreet.

ABOUT PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance is the official trade organization that represents wineries, growers, and businesses in Paso Robles Wine Country. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California’s Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country is California’s third-largest wine region. It encompasses more than 40,000 vineyard acres and 200 wineries. For more information, visit pasowine.com. Facebook - @PasoRoblesWine, Instagram - @Pasowine, and #pasowine.

ABOUT TRAVEL PASO Travel Paso’s mission is to promote Paso Robles, California as the destination of choice to targeted leisure, family, meeting and group travelers resulting in more frequent visitation, longer stays and increased revenue for our entire community. Located midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Paso Robles is California wine country with beach access. It’s where world-class food and wine meet small-town charm. Named a must-visit region by the New York Times in 2020, Paso Robles is where you can savor the real California.Visit travelpaso.com, @TravelPaso on Facebook and Instagram, and #travelpaso.