Penn State students looking for a good dining experience tonight may also be able to help Hurricane Katrina victims.

Some local restaurants will contribute to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for Hurricane Katrina victims through a program coordinated by the National Restaurant Association and the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association called Dine for America.

Through Dine for America, State College restaurants have come up with a variety of ways to donate.

Michael L. Swisher, manager of Red Lobster, 1670 N. Atherton St., said the restaurant would participate in the event today.

"One hundred percent of our profits go to the relief fund," Swisher said.

Eat'n Park, 1617 N. Atherton St., will also make a donation proportional to sales.

"Every dozen smiley cookies that we sell, we're giving a dollar to the Red Cross," said General Manager Becky Seymour, adding that their effort started Monday and will end Sunday.

To prepare for Dine for America, restaurant managers have been making sure to adjust their normal weekly schedules. "We definitely have staffed as if it was a weekend," said Tracie
O'Connor, associate manager for Hoss's Steak & Sea House, 1450 N. Atherton
St.

Red Lobster will also increase its staff, Swisher said.

One problem restaurants have been faced with is how to spread the word about Dine for America.

According to some restaurant
managers, advertising is handled through their corporate headquarters, limiting what they can do on a local level.

Lisa Rigard, service manager for T.G.I Friday's, 1215 N. Atherton St., said that her restaurant had just received posters for the event yesterday.

O'Connor said Hoss's corporate office has been preparing in various ways.

"Signs on the doors have been up for about a week now, and we have buttons for our employees," she said. "It's not just our Hoss's in State College, it's pretty much the entire company."

Even though the National Restaurant Association is coordinating Dine for America, participation is not limited to restaurants that are members. At the official Web site, www.dineforamerica.org, the public can see which restaurants are participating.

Central Pennsylvania Convention and Visitors Bureau spokeswoman Christie Black said one purpose of the Web site
is for other restaurants that may not know much about Dine for America to learn more about it and possibly get involved.

Black said she was not sure how much money Dine for America is expected to raise.