Now through Sunday, Oct. 29, you can support Pay It Forward Charleston's Emergency Relief Fund — and all you have to do is make the most of happy hour.

Let's back up for a second: What is Pay It Forward? We'll break down the impact of this local nonprofit, then share how a few tasty cocktails can help you get involved.

Pay It Forward Charleston

Despite serving as the cornerstones of our local neighborhoods, restaurants and bars have it tough in times of crisis. Maybe you noticed more "Closed" signs in 2020.

Pay It Forward began during the pandemic as a partnership between farmers, restaurants, and community members.

What started as a grocery assistance program — providing 11,000 bags of groceries in the early months of the pandemic — has grown to provide $125,000 in individual grants to restaurant employees and owners since 2021, touch 200+ Charlestonians across 80 different businesses, and develop a playbook to support Charleston in the event of a disaster.

Brighter Days Ahead

Now in its third year, the Brighter Days Ahead cocktail campaign gives you the opportunity to support Pay It Forward and the bars and restaurants it serves.

A portion of the proceeds from each cocktail with Hat Trick Botanical Gin — produced by High Wire Distilling, a partner of the nonprofit — will go to the Pay It Forward Charleston Emergency Relief Fund.

Think: a Hampton Park Swizzle with James Island muscadine grapes at The Ordinary, or a juicy Gin Crush at Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint. Here are the 16 spots selling special Brighter Days Ahead cocktails:

The Bar at High Wire
Basic Kitchen
Brasserie la Banque
FIG
Fleet Landing
Herd Provisions
Indaco
Kwei Fei
Lenoir Restaurant
Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint
Maya
O-Ku
Share House
The Gin Joint
The Kingstide
The Ordinary