When muffling the roar of a customer's empty stomach with a burger or ice cream cone, Al and Debi Davies strive to make each ticketed item count.

The Davieses, owners of Sequim Dairy Queen, 720 W. Washington St., for 12 years, started a charitable cause through their business in June 2008 called Community Give.

Through it, local nonprofit groups can receive 40 percent of sales for two hours on the last Monday of each month.

Debi Davies said nonprofit groups have received $200-$500 for their causes each time they do it, but the amount depends on their advertising.

"People have to work for it," she said.

"It's a matter of how much they advertise it out there in the community."

The Davieses also advertise the monthly event on their business' bulletin board, reader board and in the newspaper.

Each eligible group must be a local nonprofit organization with a tax I.D. number and be raising funds to make an impact locally, Davies said.



How to apply

Applications are available at the front counter, and the Davieses have final approval.

If selected, each group will be assigned a time because most of the year is planned in advance.

This year's schedule is booked through October.

On a group's day, members arrive shortly before 6 p.m., greet customers and clean the dining area when needed. After two hours, the Davieses cut a check for the organization.

Slow winter sales prompted the Davieses to think of the new marketing campaign.

"It benefits both of us," Davies said about Dairy Queen and participating nonprofits.

Community Give started as a trial run, she said, but it will continue through the foreseeable future.

"I'm trying to promote our business and help people out, too," Davies said.

"We raised our kids here and spend our money locally, so we care what happens around us."

The Davieses also allow coin cup fundraisers and fliers.



Coins for the cone

A large plastic ice cream cone sits on the store's front counter. Customers can fill it with change that the Davieses donate to the nonprofit of the month.

"I'd like to see it bigger and expand," Davies said. "We'd like to see it increase to go twice a month."

Recent recipients groups were the Clallam County Fair royalty, Sequim Food Bank, Hospice of Clallam County and a Helen Haller Elementary School class.

The Sequim Wolf Pups will be at Dairy Queen from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, and the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society will be there

6-8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28.

For more on Sequim Dairy Queen, visit the restaurant or its Web site, www.sequimdairyqueen.com.



Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.