Angry Crab Shack, the locally owned and operated seafood restaurant with bold Asian-Cajun flavors, has fundraised $75,000 for the Arizona Housing Coalition, a nonprofit that aids and provides resources to veterans experiencing homelessness and their families. Angry Crab Shack has partnered with the Arizona Housing Coalition for six years, and has donated over $250,000 to date, putting the restaurant at over $1 million in total charitable contributions since opening in 2013. This year’s donation will be presented to the coalition at the grand opening ceremony for Angry Crab Shack’s 16th in-state location on Nov. 22 in Tempe.
“One of Angry Crab Shack’s core principles is to be a force of positivity and an active community participant,” said Andy Diamond, Angry Crab Shack president. “It is an honor to uplift our veterans in their time of need as a thank you for their service and sacrifice.”
The Tempe grand opening will kick off with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Tempe’s chamber of commerce, followed by a hot wing eating competition between the city’s police and fire department. Members of the Arizona Housing Coalition will be in attendance to commemorate the opening, accept the donation and give a brief statement regarding the impact the funds will have for serving Arizona’s unhoused veteran population.
Services provided by the Arizona Housing Coalition’s StandDown program include hot meals, haircuts, showers and hygiene items with the goal of connecting veterans to services and resources to help end their housing insecurity. Angry Crab Shack’s donation helps fund the nonprofit’s annual StandDown Alliance events during which veterans and families can access the organization’s services and stay connected to their community. The Maricopa StandDown is the largest annual event of its kind in the United States. Additionally, the Arizona Housing Coalition’s StandDown program has 13 events throughout the state, serving 12,000 veterans and has helped permanently house more than 2,100 veterans since 2014.
“StandDown is a military term to describe time away from the battle frontlines. These statewide StandDown events work to ensure that Arizona’s veterans are no longer battling life on the streets by connecting them to resources to end their homelessness”, said Joan Serviss, executive director of the Arizona Housing Coalition. “Angry Crab Shack’s support of StandDown events has allowed us to reach more veterans in need, crucial during these times of surging rent prices and high inflation. As the organization responsible for hosting and supporting StandDowns throughout Arizona, we also aim to educate the public and policymakers about the challenges and solutions our veterans face when it comes to housing insecurity.”
