Busy day at Jersey Mike’s nets big proceeds for Utah charities

ST. GEORGE — If you happened to be in the vicinity of Dinosaur Crossing around lunchtime Wednesday and the shopping center parking lot seemed busier than normal, it likely had to do with something Utahns are quite good at: Giving.

Jersey Mike’s Manager Russell Lee assists a customer during the company’s annual March Month of Giving event at the Dinosaur Crossing store in St. George, Utah, Wednesday, March 29, 2023 | Photo by Vin Cappiello, St. George News

Jersey Mike’s annual March Month of Giving culminated with an all-day event across the entire franchise with 100% of its receipts going to charity. In St. George, that meant generous customers, long lines and busy workers.

But Russell Lee, a manager at the Dinosaur Crossing franchise, told St. George News he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s the busiest day of the year for us and we love it,” Lee said while Jersey Mike’s workers cranked out orders in the long, alley kitchen. “We called everyone in so we’re ready to go.”

With slicers running, grills sizzling and orders being called out, about two dozen Jersey Mike’s employees completed order after order between 12:15 and 12:45 p.m. while St. George News was on-site.

Their demeanor was friendly and helpful. Each staff member donned a light blue T-shirt, and on the back the print read, “Month of Giving … Make-a-Wish … 221 wishes waiting to be granted in Utah.”

One customer exiting the store and negotiating her way through the congested parking lot said, “It’s for a good cause.” And by 4 p.m., two Utah Wish Kids had come to the store at Dinosaur Crossing, and management said the sandwich shop remained very busy.

Make-a-Wish Utah and several Wish Kids will benefit from 100% of the business generated by Jersey Mike’s annual March Month of Giving event across the nation and in St. George, Utah, Wednesday, March 29, 2023 | Photo by Vin Cappiello, St. George News

In fact, according to the company’s website: “Day of Giving is Jersey Mike’s busiest day of the year. Each location prepares by staffing up and ordering extra food, ensuring there is plenty of meat, cheese, bread, onions, lettuce, tomatoes and bacon to meet the high demand.”

A SmartAsset study released in December 2022 revealed that St. George ranks fifth among 384 metropolitan areas for monetary donations to charity from the wealthy. Nationally, 47% of tax filers who earn upwards of $200,000 gave to charity. In St. George, 65% donated money or gifts.

“The top 10 metro areas in Utah and Georgia exceed the national average by nearly 20%,” according to SmartAsset.

Additionally, Wallet Hub reports that Utah ranks No. 1 in the nation for overall volunteering, service and charitable giving.

Day of Giving is the culmination of Jersey Mike’s March Month of Giving fundraising campaign, a news release said. All month, Jersey Mike’s has collected donations from customers for partner charities including hospitals, youth organizations, food banks and more. Since Month of Giving began in 2011, Jersey Mike’s has raised more than $67 million for local charities.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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