With the Christmas season now on the radar, restaurants are again being asked to support the annual charity program to help homeless people.

StreetSmart Australia’s Dine Out to Help Out event last year generated $260,000 with the support of restaurants who took part in the campaign that asks diners to add and extra $2 to their bill.

For the first time this year the campaign which runs from November 9 to December 24, is being extended to South Australia with businesses already signed up from the state including Awganix @ The Marienberg Centre and Lenzerheide restaurant.

They will join long time restaurant supporters of the campaign including Longrain, Coast, Universal, Ezard, Cumulus Inc, Baguette Restaurant and Lounge Bar, Montrachet, Il Centro Restaurant & Bar, and e'cco.

success of the initiative and are encouraging others in the industry to sign up now.

Sam Christie from Longrain urged restaurateurs to consider a union with StreetSmart.

“You are dishing up a meal that feeds twice—both the diner in your restaurant and those on your very streets suffering from homelessness. It costs the restaurant nothing to run, 100 per cent of the money raised by our diners is put back into the community, and the campaign is well run, promoted and supported.”

Since launching in 2003 StreetSmart has generated $830,000. StreetSmart Australia CEO, Adam Robinson, says the organisation is aiming to surpass the $1,000,000 mark with this year’s campaign.

With the proceeds of the 2008 initiative, StreetSmart funded 63 grassroots projects that are delivering emergency aid as well as longer term programs helping to move people out of homelessness. All funds raised through participating restaurants go to homeless organisations.

Visit streetsmartaustralia.org for more information.