MANSFIELD — The community is pitching in to help the owner of a longtime Mansfield restaurant get back on his feet – and back in the kitchen.
A fundraising dinner is planned for Sunday, March 15, to benefit Dan Blasberg, Sr., and the restaurant he and his family have owned for more than 70 years – Porky’s Drive-In on Ashland Road.
“They’re a great family. It’s coming along very quickly,” said the benefit’s organizer, Ariah Clow, who is the event coordinator for the Trillium Event Center in Bucyrus. “I thought, if we’re gonna do it, we have to get to the ground running.”
Clow said Blasberg, 72, and Porky’s have been plagued with problems. He was robbed back in November when he left the restaurant and has since suffered a heart attack. The freezer went on the fritz and other equipment is in need of repairs.
“I was in there every day as a kid,” Clow said of the popular eatery, known for its burgers, fries and shakes. “There’s been a lot of community support so far. I think it just shows how much the Porky’s family means to them and to the Mansfield area.”
She has cooked up a 1950s theme for the fundraiser, which will be from 4-7 p.m. at the Legacy on Possum Run Road in Bellville (formerly Possum Run Greenhouse). Dinner will be catered, with a silent auction, music and plenty of raffles and prizes on tap. The event is cash only.
Clow said dozens of residents and businesses have already stepped up to the plate with donated items and gift cards. The new owners of the Legacy offered to host the event after hearing about Porky’s and its string of bad luck.
Those who cannot attend are encouraged to help by donating to the GoFundMe page already set up, which has raised half of its $10,000 goal, Clow said. Either way, she said, the outpouring of support from the community has been phenomenal.
“It’s been fun. It’s a lot of work, but I’m excited to see how it all comes together on Sunday.”