(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, Ca) -  The Trails Neighborhood Eatery helped raise funds for two community organizations in mid-January: the El Cajon-based Home of Guiding Hands, and the Lake Murray Playground Project.

Owner Stacey Poon-Kinney donated 10 percent of the restaurant's dinner proceeds to each nonprofit, totaling just more than $300 for the Home of Guiding Hands' fund-raiser on January 14th and 15th, and about $200 for the Lake Murray Playground Project's fund-raiser on January 16th.

"This is just the beginning for us," says Poon-Kinney. "We intend to make this a cornerstone of our business. Part of our mission is to take care of the community that takes care of us."

The Home of Guiding Hands, based in El Cajon, provides services to people with development disabilities and their families. The Lake Murray Playground Project is working to design, fund and re-build the playground at Lake Murray Community Park.

The playground boosters were able to raise additional funds through an opportunity drawing, t-shirt and water bottle sales, and orders for pavers that will surround the revamped playground.

Both community organizations were able to invite their own friends and families to the fundraising dinners, with The Trails also donating a portion of its proceeds from walk-in customers.

Patrons who dined during the fundraisers were treated to live music. Jeremiah and the Bullfrogs, a local band that specializes in jazz, Dixieland and blues, played for the Home of Guiding Hands, and classical pianist James Dare performed for the Lake Murray Playground Project dinner.

Fundraisers for other community groups are planned, as are private dinners for organizations that want to use the venue on nights when the restaurant is normally closed.

While The Trails has long served breakfast and lunch daily, it officially opened for dinner on New Year's Eve. Dinner is served from 4 to 9pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Poon-Kinney has owned the Jackson Drive restaurant for about two-and-half years. She changed the name from Megan's last May, and has been slowly expanding the menu to include more variety as well as locally grown produce.

Poon-Kinney says she learned the restaurant business from her mother, and the importance of volunteerism from her father. The staff of The Trails is largely comprised of her extended family.

"Community starts with our family, and grows out from there," she says.