The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has expanded its partnership with community engagement platform GiftAMeal, establishing it as the restaurant chain's national philanthropic partner. Following a pilot program with 10 locations in July 2024, the partnership now operates in over 70 locations across the United States, excluding cloud kitchens, food trucks, and locations in the Las Vegas Valley. Since the partnership began in 2024, guests have helped provide more than 20,000 meals to families facing food insecurity in their communities through the platform.
For every photo taken through the GiftAMeal platform, the organization donates to a trusted local food bank, helping deliver 1.2 pounds of groceries through a network of neighborhood pantries. Bob Andersen, President of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, stated that "GiftAMeal allows our franchise operators to live our brand mission by translating local commitment into real community impact." He added that "across our system, guests can enjoy a great meal while helping deliver groceries through neighborhood pantries, making serving the community an integrated part of our franchise model and everyday guest experience."
During Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17 and throughout the month, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is inviting guests to participate with enhanced impact. At the end of February, the restaurant will match the monetary value of the total number of meals donated, established by each food bank, to contribute the same number of meals. Participation involves customers scanning the GiftAMeal QR code posted inside the restaurant, taking a photo of their food or drink to trigger an automatic donation to a local food bank, and optionally sharing on social media to multiply the impact, as social media shares can double, triple, or even quadruple donations.
Andrew Glantz, Founder and CEO of GiftAMeal, noted that "The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has quickly become a valued national partner in our mission to support families facing hunger." He highlighted that "more than 20,000 meals have already been donated through their guests' participation, and we're excited to expand our impact together as we head into our third year of partnership." GiftAMeal serves as the trusted partner of over 1,000 restaurants nationwide, from local independents to national brands, and has provided over 2.8 million meals to date.
To find a participating location, customers can visit https://www.thegreatgreekgrill.com/locations. The program is available for dine-in customers only, with no other restrictions or exclusions, making community engagement accessible during regular dining experiences. This expansion represents a significant scaling of corporate social responsibility initiatives within the restaurant industry, demonstrating how technology platforms can facilitate direct community support through everyday consumer activities.
