The 21^st annual Dining Out for Life takes place Thursday (March 26). Nearly 100 restaurants from White Rock to Whistler will take part in the event, which supports local men, women, and children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Participating restaurants donate 25 percent of food sales that day to Dining Out for Life, which in turn, benefits not-for-profit organizations Friends for Life and A Loving Spoonful.

The West End-based Friends for Life provides holistic therapies to people living with HIV/AIDS, as well as counselling, nutrition programs, and in-home support. A Loving Spoonful delivers free, nutritious meals to people affected by HIV/AIDS in the Greater Vancouver area.

Since 1994, Dining Out for Life has raised over $3 million for these charities.

This year sees many returning participants, as well as restaurants new to the event. Long-time supporters, such as Giraffe Restaurant in White Rock, Chambar and Hawksworth  in Vancouver, and Alta Bistro in Whistler, will all be participating during dinner service.

Jan’s on the Beach in White Rock, Belgard Kitchen in Vancouver's Railtown neighbourhood, and Stonesedge Bistro in Whistler are a few of the restaurants new to the program this year.

A handful of restaurant will also be donating 25 percent of food sales from lunch service to Dining Out for Life. Doolin’s Irish Pub, the Gallery Café at the Vancouver Art Gallery, Gurkha Himalayan Kitchen, Homer Street Café, and Maenam are included.

The event also features chain restaurants, such as Burgoo Bistro, downtown Vancouver locations of Earls Kitchen + Bar, Hapa Izakaya, and Memphis Blues BBQ.

Don’t have time to sit down for a meal? From March 26 to 29, Lucky’s Doughnuts at 49^th Parallel Coffee's Mount Pleasant and Kitsilano locations will be donating 100 percent of proceeds from sales of their sour cherry and white chocolate doughnut ($3.50 each).

For a full list of participating restaurants, visit the Dining Out for Life website.