Marcus Thomas and Chef Rocco Whalen Bring Holiday Magic to Businesses Impacted by Hurricane Helene

In an effort to help the wait staff, bartenders, baristas, and cooks that remain out of work during what is typically their busiest and most lucrative season, independent agency Marcus Thomas and Chef Rocco Whalen are offering patrons of his Fahrenheit restaurants a creative way to get much-needed funds directly to hospitality workers.

This holiday season, patrons of Fahrenheit restaurants in Cleveland, Ohio and Charlotte, N.C. will be presented with a special Carry On menu filled with signature dishes from Western North Carolina eateries that were destroyed by Hurricane Helene. While they can’t buy the famed Reuben sandwich from the shuttered Corner Kitchen or ribs from 12 Bones Smokehouse, they can scan a QR code to purchase a symbolic carryout order that donates directly to the North Carolina Hospitality Workers Relief Fund.

“Local businesses are in dire need of help as they have nothing to sell,” said agency president and chief creative officer Jamie Venorsky. “The Carry On menu offers a creative way for consumers to show their support during the holidays and for us to use our creative powers for good.”

With a core agency tenet being unwaveringly dedicated to 'community,' the campaign delivers on the agency’s ambitions to improve communities. To bolster donations to the relief fund, the 250-person agency is making a sizable donation on behalf of its clients and employees. 

“The holiday brief is one our teams love to receive as it offers a chance to use our superpowers for causes that count and on issues that matter most,” added Jamie. “This year is no exception. It’s going to be a long time before establishments wrecked by Helene can reopen. Bringing some joy to local workers is a gift we hope becomes contagious.”