Columbia Restaurant’s Community Harvest to Benefit Council on Aging and Local Charities

St. Augustine, FL, September 1, 2022 – Eat well and do good in support of local nonprofits including Council on Aging during the entire month of September during the 25th Annual Columbia Restaurant Community Harvest program. All of the 1905 Family of Restaurants are participating this year, including the Columbia Restaurant location at 98 St. George Street in downtown St. Augustine.

Through its month-long Community Harvest program, now in its 25th year, the company donates 5 percent of all diners’ checks to charities selected by the guests. Over the last 24 years, this program has provided more than $3 million to nonprofit organizations throughout Florida.  

During the month of September, simply choose an organization from a ballot that is provided with the check.  The restaurant will calculate the 5 percent and provide the charity with gift certificates that can be used at any of the restaurants for up to 12 months.  There is no additional cost to the guest.

The St. Augustine Columbia Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. For more information and to make a reservation, visit https://www.columbiarestaurant.com/historic-district-st-augustine.

Local nonprofit Council on Aging (COA) has been serving seniors and caregivers in St. Johns County since 1973. COA offers a comprehensive range of programs and services that support older adults in maintaining their independence and enjoying their best lives at every age. Among the many programs COA offers are home-delivered Meals on Wheels, independent living services, prescription assistance, IMEP™, their Integrative Memory Enhancement Program, adult day care, caregiver support, and community senior and lifelong learning centers throughout St. Johns County.

The original Columbia Restaurant was founded in Tampa’s Historic Ybor City in 1905 by Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez, Sr., and is Florida’s oldest restaurant. All of the restaurants are owned and operated by 4th and 5th generation members of the founding family, except for the Columbia Restaurant Cafe at Tampa International Airport, which is operated in partnership with HMSHost.

“We started this program as a way to help many of the worthy non-profit groups that are so important to our communities,” said 4th generation family member and president Richard Gonzmart. “I can’t believe how much it has grown in 25 years. We’re excited this year to extend the ballots and gift certificates to all our restaurant concepts, which should provide a real increase in our donations to the charities.”