Locals showed up to toast and taste the town for a good cause on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Mitchell Park
The first annual “Flavor of SLO” raised money to benefit Alpha Counseling and support the United Way of San Luis Obispo.
“This was something that you needed a lot of organization for,” business senior Jessica Sisco said. “Both the United Way and Alpha have been so helpful.”
While these charities may have helped Sisco with the organization of the event, the community was their true beneficiary.
“Alpha is a pregnancy counseling and support center and we provide nonjudgmental services in both a practical and emotional way,” said Jen Miller, an employee for the organization.
“Pretty much all the needs that a new mother would have in a challenging situation we provide.”
United Way chief operating officer Charlene Rosales explained the charity’s purpose.
“We support health and human service programs by raising funds to distribute funds to local nonprofit agencies,” he said.
The event was created by Sisco to allow locals to experience restaurants in an affordable and beneficial way.
More than 23 local restaurants, wineries and breweries showed up to support the cause while promoting their products.
“A lot of businesses are really gracious and willing to help support nonprofit organizations and we were really lucky to have their help,” Sisco said.
And several venders were happy to be contributing to the cause.
“Anytime you can pour beer in a community, it’s pretty fun,” Spike’s bartender Danny Kramer said.
Doug Beckett, co-owner of Peachy Canyon Winery, was excited to benefit the day’s featured charities and to support a Cal Poly senior project.
“We have supported Cal Poly for many years,” Beckett said.
“We have always felt that the kids coming out of Poly are going to make a difference in the future and this was a project put together by a student senior project and right away it appealed to us.”
Sisco was pleased with the variety of food and business.
“We contacted almost every restaurant in town,” she said.
“We wanted to get some restaurants that maybe people had never been to and give people a chance to try something new. We welcomed all restaurants and the same goes for the wineries and breweries.”
Food wasn’t the only thing on display. Local bands Central Currency and Criticnue serenaded patrons as they tasted and toasted the afternoon away.
“It’s just a really great cause; playing an outdoor show on a beautiful day is just hard to say no to,” lead vocalist and guitarist for Central Currency Dave Carlsen said.
“All these other business are donating there stuff, it’s a lot of good people coming together to do good things.”