TOLEDO, Ohio — Home Slice Pizza in downtown Toledo is one of the many restaurants taking part in the city's restaurant week.
"It's a new opportunity to bring new faces into our building, serve them and hopefully they enjoy our food," said General Manager James Reynolds.
The restaurant gets creative with its pizzas during the week to hopefully draw customers in.
"We have truly innovative creation here at Home Slice," Reynolds said.
He said the new menu has worked so far and that the week has been great for business. But the restaurants aren't the only ones benefiting.
Three percent of sales at participating restaurants during the week go toward Leadership Toledo's youth programming. The organization works with high schoolers around the area to become leaders in the community, through self-awareness and community service.
Joel Drees, 15, is a student at Central Catholic High School and in the program, which he said helps him whether it's in his role as vice president of student council or his job as a caddy at Inverness Club.
"To better serve members in Toledo, guests and other members in my group. It really helped me to lead, grow and execute on the golf course," he said.
Drees said the ultimate goal is to be a pilot one day, which leadership development will help with.
"It will definitely help me in college and my later career," he said.
Reynolds said he sees the true worth in community efforts like restaurant week where part of his profits pay it forward.
"You will do better in Toledo, so it's a great opportunity to give back to our community while bringing in new customers into our restaurant. It's a win-win," Reynolds said.
Leadership Toledo said that each year restaurant week raises about $100,000 for youth programming, making it the organization's biggest fundraiser.
The programs are free of charge to the students. For more information on the program, click here.