The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has expanded its partnership with GiftAMeal to become the restaurant chain's national philanthropic partner, significantly scaling a program that turns customer photos into donations for local food banks. After initially piloting the program with 10 locations in July 2024, the Mediterranean fast casual franchise now offers the GiftAMeal platform in over 70 locations across the United States, excluding cloud kitchens, food trucks, and specific Las Vegas Valley locations.
Since the partnership began in 2024, guests of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill have helped provide more than 20,000 meals to families facing food insecurity in their communities through the simple act of taking photos on the GiftAMeal platform. For every photo taken, GiftAMeal donates to a trusted local food bank, helping deliver 1.2 pounds of groceries through neighborhood pantry networks. This innovative approach to corporate philanthropy demonstrates how businesses can integrate social impact directly into customer experiences.
"GiftAMeal allows our franchise operators to live our brand mission by translating local commitment into real community impact," said Bob Andersen, President of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill. "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."
The timing of this national expansion coincides with Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17, with The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill encouraging participation throughout the month. The restaurant chain has committed to matching the monetary value of all meals donated during February, effectively doubling the impact of customer contributions. This matching initiative represents a significant financial commitment to hunger relief efforts across communities where the restaurants operate.
Participation in the program follows a simple three-step process: customers scan the GiftAMeal QR code posted inside restaurants, take a photo of their food or drink to trigger an automatic donation, and can optionally share on social media to multiply the impact. Social media shares can potentially double, triple, or even quadruple the original donation amount, creating a viral effect for hunger relief.
"The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has quickly become a valued national partner in our mission to support families facing hunger," said Andrew Glantz, Founder & CEO of GiftAMeal. "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 and has provided over 2.8 million meals to date through its innovative platform. The expansion of this partnership with The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill represents a significant scaling of corporate social responsibility initiatives within the restaurant industry, demonstrating how technology can bridge the gap between consumer engagement and community support. Customers interested in participating can find their nearest location at https://www.thegreatgreekgrill.com/locations, with the program available for dine-in customers without additional restrictions or exclusions.
