Arts & Entertainment

Red Rock Bistro Gives

The local bistro by the sea is raising funds to feed the hungry this holiday season.

Ornaments that decorate two Christmas trees outside the Red Rock Bistro represent food for the hungry.

Red Rock general manager Erica Petersiel thought of My Brother's Table, a soup kitchen in Lynn, when she considered a way to help those in need this holiday season.

She had volunteered there as a child and helped prepare and serve some of the 2.5 million meals that have fed the hungry at its tables since 1982.

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My Brother's Table is the busiest soup kitchen on the North Shore and serves lunch and dinner each weekday and dinner on the weekend.

The bistro has collected $700 so far, already eclipsing her goal of $600.

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The ornament fundraiser will continue through Christmas Eve, one ornament at time. 

Petersiel, who is Jewish, bought her first Christmas tree this year. That was after Thanksgiving. She sold ornaments for $5 donations and hung the red and blue decorations on the tree.

"The first week we filled the tree," she said. She then bought a second 6-footer. 

They stand side-by-side, seen through a bistro picture glass window. Tiny white lights gleam on them.

Inisde the warm bar, table tents advertise the fundraiser, triangular folded papers saying proceeds from the ornament sale go to My Brother's Table.

Bartender Ken Merlino says Petersiel tops the table tents when it comes to spreading the word about the fundraiser.

"Erica is fantastic about walking around and ... showing the tray of $5 ornaments," he said.

Customers readily donate.

"I think people want to help, to donate this time of ear," she said.

Especially given the lingering tough economic times felt by many people.

The second tree will soon fill with the ball-shapes ornaments.

It looks like another tree may soon stand outside soon.


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