VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — With a menu grandma would approve, Blackeyed Peas in Lynnhaven Mall kicks off restaurant week, NAACP-style on March 17, with soul food and the history of civil rights in America going hand-in-hand. Cynthia Terry is the owner of Blackeyed Peas.
“Soul food was a comfort style food that brought us together as a team,” said Blackeyed Peas owner Cynthia Terry, “whether it was the soldiers or the moms and dads and the kids, you know, working together as a unit, we were all sit-down and have a nice, warm dinner connected us as a team.”
The Virginia Beach chapter of the nation’s oldest civil rights group partnered with seven businesses to bring exposure to the establishments and generate funds for children’s programs.
“Yes, school programs are huge,” said Dr. Eric Majette, president of the Virginia Beach chapter of the NAACP. “We have a program for the youth in our Bridge national program that we are part of and help those kids.”
Like grandma’s cornbread, timing is everything. The flavorful fundraiser kicks off at Blackeyed Peas followed by a different establishment each day of the next six days of the week.
“You know, since COVID, a lot of the restaurants went out of business,” Majette said, “and the restaurants are still having issues trying to make sure they can catch up and staff and all those kind of things and cooks and staff. We want to be a part of their success.”
