Benefit buffet for Haiti in Riverton

RIVERTON — Numerous organizations and groups throughout the Northwest Corner have stepped forward to do their part to help raise money for the Haiti earthquake relief effort.

Paul Panettiere, chef and owner of Sweet Pea’s Restaurant in Riverton, is one of them.

Panettiere has organized a Haitian relief benefit buffet dinner for this coming Tuesday, Feb. 2.

The all-you-can-eat buffet will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at the popular eatery, which is housed along with an antique gallery in a historical yellow Victorian house along Riverton Road.

The cost is $20 per person and reservations are required. The meal will feature soup, salad, chicken, beef, seafood, pasta, mashed potatoes, rice, vegetables, pastries, as well as soft drinks, coffee or tea.

Alcoholic beverages — which have been donated by area distributors for the event — will be available for purchase.

In fact, many local merchants are donating goods and services to help keep the evening’s costs to a minimum.

“Everybody in town is doing something,� he said.

All proceeds raised through the dinner will go to AmeriCares, a Stamford-based nonprofit organization that has been working directly with victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

The evening will also feature live entertainment by local musician Cindy Rines. Also, a raffle will take place with all funds going directly to the relief effort. Additional donations will also be accepted at the fundraiser.

“If one human being benefits, how can you not do this?� Panettiere said of his motivation to host and organize the fundraiser.

Panettiere, a Trumbull resident, said he chose AmeriCares not just because it is a Connecticut-based charity, but also because 99 percent of all donations to the group go directly toward funding its programs and services.

“It’s hard to find an organization that gives like that,� he said, adding that AmeriCares currently is coordinating the distribution of more than $6 million worth of medical equipment and supplies.

Panettiere organized a similar event at his restaurant in March 2005. That benefit, also a buffet dinner, supported the Westport-based Save the Children’s effort to provide assistance to the survivors of the devastating tsunami that struck Southeast Asia in late 2004.

“The response was really good,� he said of the tsunami benefit. “It was a very good night … you just felt there was an emotional spirit in the room.�

Panettiere is expecting a similar response for next week’s fundraiser. If there is a strong enough interest, he said he may carry over the buffet to the next night.

“Right now, our motive is just to make a difference for the better,� he said. “It’s just an attempt to do a good thing.�

Sweet Pea’s Restaurant is located at 6 Riverton Road in Riverton. For more information about the benefit dinner or to make a reservation, call 860-379-7020.