Many of us know that it is through volunteer labor, donations, and selfless support that we continue to strive to improve programs and services at Channing Murray Foundation/The Red Herring Restaurant. This weekend’s Red Herring Rummage Sale was no different — we saw an outpouring of support from friends of the foundation in offering items for the sale, volunteering to help staff the sale, and coming by to browse and make purchases that would support our projects. We know how much you, like us, want to see the restaurant thrive as a hub for amazing vegan-vegetarian eats in C-U. This is why it is with a heavy heart that we report that after raising close to $1,300 through our Red Herring Rummage Sale — funds that would support capital improvements and enhanced operation in the Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant — we discovered that our proceeds, after having been locked and stowed away, had been stolen Saturday night from our premises.
We are dedicated to taking swift action to work to recover the funds. Upon discovering the theft, the President and our Board of Governors have been working closely with the Urbana and University Police Departments to recover the stolen funds, implement more security procedures and policy for the building, and see to it that an incident like this will never occur again on our premises. We are confident that the steps we are taking will increase the building’s overall security and we, the Board of Governors, along with local police, are hopeful we will recover every dollar taken.
It’s easy in times like these to feel defeated, to lose faith in the power of our organization, to grow tired — but we are standing strong. We are committed to the long haul. We will continue to fundraise to support the reopening of a new and improved Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant with persistence and commitment. We’ve extended our Red Herring Rummage sale until next Saturday, July 13 for one day only. We hope you’ll come out to support the Red Herring Restaurant–consider donating items to the sale (donations will be accepted M–F noon–3:00 p.m. and Friday evening 6:00–9:00 p.m. at the Channing Murray Foundation 1209 W. Oregon St. Urbana), volunteering with the Red Herring Summer Restoration Project, or offering a monetary gift here. And most of all, we want to thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for the support of members of the Champaign-Urbana community that give us strength, hope, and the determination to keep going.