With the success of the first Texas Gives Back fundraiser for Hannah’s Place, General Manager Melissa Hand sought inspiration for another way to bring the community together.

She found it when she saw a convoy of military vehicles while driving to Rocky Mount. “It got me emotional,” she said today. “It just got to me thinking I am coming back home. Looking at them, I asked myself where were they going.”

Later that evening she told Manager Charlie Whitley she was going to plan a concert to raise funds for the Wounded Warriors Project, an organization that helps wounded service men and women.

The free concert is set for September 1 in the Texas Steakhouse and Saloon side parking lot with The Cove of Roanoke Rapids set to play from noon to 3 p.m.

There will be a festival atmosphere as tents will be set up to cool off and bouncing houses will be available for children. There will be face painting and snow cones. The restaurant will be handing out coupons, T-shirts and koozies. Hand is working on bringing a military vehicle and fire truck to the event.

Promotional poster.

Lake Country Cornhole will have boards and bags at the event for patrons to play.

Like the first Texas Gives Back fundraiser and other efforts including feeding officers in the wake of the John Taylor shooting and Relay for Life, the sight of the military vehicles led to the decision to help the Wounded Warriors Project. “It’s a community thing,” she said.

Texas is already a Wounded Warriors Project partner, Hand explained, with every dollar of its strawberry shortcake sales going to the organization.

The restaurant has already collected more than $2,000, getting $1,000 in a day. The restaurant is still taking donations, whether cash or items businesses want to donate as door prizes.

A Girl Scout troop will be selling baked goods with all the proceeds going to the Wounded Warriors.

As with the local restaurant’s other fundraisers, corporate is behind the event, Hand said. “They’re really down to earth people and believe in giving back. It feels good to bring people together. It’s nice to do positive things. It makes you believe in people and shows how people love their country.”

For more information or to donate call Hand at 252-308-5476 or 252-537-8621.