Dish n’ Dat Owner: Fundraisers A Good Way to Stay Involved in Canton Community

Like many area entrepreneurs Dish n’ Dat managing partner Dan Keller feels giving back is part of doing business.

“Ever since we opened one of the things I wanted to do is be involved in the community we’re in,” Keller said.

Since coming to town three years ago, the Canton restaurant has done just that and still hosts fundraisers for local organizations both profit and non-profit.

For the effort, organizations can pick any night Sunday through Thursday. Dish n’ Dat then makes custom flyers the organization can then distribute via hard copy or through the internet or e-mail blast.

For every person who brings in the coupon on the flyer on the given, the restaurant donates 20 percent of the food order to the benefiting organization. The fundraisers generally start at 4 p.m. and run through closing time. Alcohol is excluded, mostly due to insurance reasons, Keller said.

Keller also asks that the organizations stick to distributing the coupons ahead of time and not solicit regular customers at the door.

Some of the biggest fundraisers have been with the town of canton Volunteer Fire and EMS Department, raising $3,200 over three years.

Numerous other organizations, such as schools, scout groups, church groups, dance studios and others have taken advantage of the fundraisers, Keller said.  Some also augment their efforts by selling shirts or holding silent auctions.

“It’s allowed us to help out a lot of organizations and we enjoy doing it,” Keller said.

This week two are scheduled. On Wednesday night, a benefit will be held for the family of Michael Smith, a 28-year-old chef and past firefighter and EMT who died unexpectedly this month. One of his past employers was Dish n’ Dat and Keller said he was about to return to work there when he died.

Thursday night a fundraiser will benefit Kelsey Dube as she prepares to compete in the National American Miss  pageant in Anaheim California. 

Keller us also owner of Dish Bar & Grill in Hartford. The fundraisers are not held in Hartford but Keller works with organizations in other ways.

In Canton, groups looking to host a fundraiser at Dish n’ Dat can can stop in or call 860-693-4927 and ask for Keller or a manger on duty.

For Keller it’s a simple way to give something to a community that offers its year-round support for his business.

“My biggest thing is to give back to the community we do business in,” he said.