Columbus diners, 'grub' to raise money for restaurant owner recovering from severe injury
COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) - An annual fundraiser hosted by restaurant owners to help local charities is now rallying around one of their own as he recovers from a life-threatening injury.
Tuesday afternoon, his name, a sign, and a hashtag - #InItForJones - was already posted on windows and walls of most Uptown Columbus restaurants as the culinary community does its part to help Mark Jones and his family on their long road to recovery.
Stephanie Woodham, Jones' friend and business partner, said even his competitors reached out to her when they found out the restaurant tycoon was severely injured in a car accident May 20.
The impact, Woodham said, left Jones quadriplegic and on a path to rehabilitation in Atlanta.
"Mark is used to going at a very fast pace, opening restaurants, 'concepting,'" she said. "This is not a fast-paced situation for him. It is very tiny, little baby steps. I do believe that he is making progress."
In years past, Jones and Woodham would partner for the "Grubbin' to Give" campaign, donating all proceeds from one of the restaurants to a worthy nonprofit organization.
Now, Woodham and Jones' rival restaurants are taking it upon themselves to rally food lovers and long-time customers to order their favorite meals, so that Jones and his family can receive all of the money raised to cover his massive medical costs.
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