By Chelsea Pyne

Hope du Jour is Crisis Control’s signature fundraising event. In 2019, this well-established community tradition brought more than 135 participating restaurants and local diners together for a day of “feel-good eating.” You may be familiar with the French menu item “soupe du jour” meaning soup of the day. Well Crisis Control Ministry is taking that a step further – serving the community with “hope of the day.” All Hope du Jour donations stay in Forsyth County and help Crisis Control assist people who are having difficulty with housing payments, utilities, food and medication.

On Tuesday, September 8, Crisis Control Ministry will host its 30th annual “Hope du Jour” fundraiser, benefiting its programs and services provided to families throughout Forsyth and Stokes County. Crisis Control Ministry Special Events and Marketing Manager Abbey Riesett explained, “Hope du Jour is long standing tradition in our community. It is a fun event that brings people together. With the pandemic impacting the local economy, particularly the food and beverage industry, we knew the 30th Anniversary of Hope du Jour needed to happen. This year, our goal is to really support our Hope du Jour partners by encouraging people to order takeout or curbside pickup. Instead of asking Hope du Jour partners to give 10% of their sales from the day back to Crisis Control Ministry, we are asking our partners to give what they are able. That may mean some restaurants prepare frozen meals for us to distribute through our food pantries instead of making a financial donation.” 

Restaurants, bakeries and coffee shops in Kernersville, Winston-Salem, and throughout Forsyth County will come together to support Crisis Control Ministry by donating food or a percentage of their proceeds from the entire day to the organization. Over 130 area restaurants participate in Hope du Jour each year, making it convenient for diners anywhere in the area to find a spot to eat to support the work done by Crisis Control Ministry.

“Hope du Jour is all about community”, said Margaret Elliott, Executive Director of Crisis Control Ministry, “This year by dining out for Hope du Jour, you aren’t just supporting Crisis Control Ministry; you are also supporting local restaurants that have been impacted by COVID-19.”

Plaza Restaurant of Kernersville is one of the many restaurants that have been participating in Hope du Jour for over 20 years. Owner Stephen Kroustalis shared, “I do not wish to live in the type of world where we do not look out for each other. We never know what the future brings, but having an organization like Crisis Control in the community is of paramount importance. We are grateful to be able to do our small part in helping Crisis Control each year.”

Abbey added, “In the Kernersville community, there are 14 local food and beverage businesses participating in Hope du Jour. There are restaurants who participate every year like crowd favorites Don Juan’s, Amalfi’s, Captain Tom’s, Plaza Restaurant, and others. There are also some new restaurants like Big Burger Spot and Ledo Pizza. Then, there are some returning restaurants you may not have seen in a few years like Prissy Polly’s BBQ and Mae’s Vintage Village. With so many options, you are bound to find a Kernersville restaurant to dine with for Hope du Jour!”

The following Kernersville restaurants are participating:

• Amalfi’s Italian Restaurant
• Big Burger Spot
• Cagney’s of Kernersville
• Cake & All Things Yummy
• Captain Tom’s Seafood & Oyster Bar
• Deli on Main
• Don Juan’s Mexican Restaurant
• KB Catering and Grilling
• Ledo Pizza
• Low Price Mart & The Grill
• Mae’s Vintage Village
• Plaza Restaurant
• Prissy Polly’s BBQ
• Sixty Six Pizzeria Grill and Bar

For more information and the list of participating restaurants around the Triad, visit HopeduJour.org.

Now in its 47th year with offices in Kernersville and Winston-Salem, Crisis Control Ministry’s mission is to assist people in crisis to meet essential life needs and to become self-sufficient. Crisis Control Ministry provides financial assistance with housing and utilities, food, and prescription medications. The office in Kernersville is located at 431 W. Bodenhamer Street. For additional information, visit CrisisControl.org.