Patrons of local watering holes are putting their money where their mouth is.

This week, local bars within the Responsible Hospitality Council are contributing money from cover charges and percentages of sales for to aid in relief for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Joe Goodsir, co-owner of Rick’s American Cafe, 224 Abbott Road, the Riviera Cafe, Restaurant and Lounge, 231 M.A.C. Ave., and Beggar’s Banquet, 218 Abbott Road, said he figured MSU students would be interested in helping.

“MSU has quite a few students from the New York area,” he said.

Goodsir, who also is co-director of the council, said the group was excited about the charity.

Rick’s American Cafe donated a dollar from each person’s cover charge Monday and will donate the same amount on Friday to the American Red Cross, he said.

Alcohol and drug educator for Olin Health education, Jasmine Greenamyer, said the businesses should be congratulated on the idea.

“I think it is inspiring, it is something they needed to do,” she said. “It seems more often the bars get more negative attention than positive.”

While some bars are donating money from their cover charges, others have gotten a little bit more creative.

Crunchy’s, 254 W. Grand River Ave., has been donating sales from T-shirts to the New York Fire Department.

Terra Tindol, a bartender, said the shirts have been going fast.

“On the front it has USA in red and on the back it has a picture of (Osama) bin Laden with a circle around his head and a line going through him,” she said.

Tindol said so far the bar has raised about $1,200.

Jamie Weeks, manager of Trippers, 354 Frandor Ave. in Lansing, said all the money taken in from patrons playing pool will go to charity.

She said customers pay $8 an hour for a game of pool on their 10 pool tables.

“Thursday night we have a house band, that pulls in a crowd that loves to play pool and listen to the band,” she said.

Weeks said he hopes to raise at least $300 or $400.

“I have been telling my staff to tell people to come in, hopefully that will help a little bit,” she said.

Some MSU students are happy to see their money go to a good cause.

Packaging senior, Eric Weiler, said it is a cooperative effort.

“It is kind of like the students are giving back too, because we get to donate their money to the people who need it,” he said.

Dave Solteze, an advertising senior, said he loved the fact one of his favorite watering holes, Rick’s American Cafe, is involved.

“It is like killing two birds with one stone, you get to drink and help someone out too,” he said.