ROO program serving only Guardsmen

DAUPHIN ISLAND, Alabama (WALA) - The BP sponsored "Restaurants of Opportunity" program that's been in the works for two months is finally taking off with great success on Dauphin Island.

Tourism is down, and that means income is too for many businesses on the Gulf Coast. In an effort to make up for lost revenue, several restaurants on Dauphin Island have struck a deal with BP to serve homemade meals to the work crews.

Mary Scarcliff owns the Lighthouse Bakery on the Island. She'll cater lunch every three days in rotation with Barnacle Bill's and The Common Loon, the other two restaurants participating in the deal.

The Lighthouse Bakery served up lunches Wednesday.

"Today we made homemade croissants with smoked turkey and provolone cheese with an oatmeal cookie," Scarcliff said.

Scarcliff said so far BP is only paying the restaurants to cater lunches to the Army National Guardsmen who are stationed on Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan. She said that is plenty of work for her right now.

The three restaurants will serve lunch two days a week, and on the seventh day Barnacle Bills and The Common Loon will rotate serving lunch.

"We are actually going to work into a three week rotation so that they don't get the same meal for three weeks. It rotates all the time," explained Scarcliff.

Sgt. Denise Lisle is on Dauphin Island with the Army National Guard. She said she is thankful for variety.

"Definitely, we appreciate everything they give us instead of eating M.R.E.'s for lunch we get a good nutritious meal have a variety of stuff. It makes sure we are ready to do our job," said Sgt. Lisle.

Scarcliff said its not exactly how she imagined running her bakery, but she's adjusting to the new schedule.

"Its a challenge but I'm game. I'm there. We have to pay the bills and if this is the way we gotta do it, this is the way we gotta do it," said Scarcliff.

The contract between the restaurants and BP has no end date at this point so they will be able to count on the extra income for a while. Scarcliff said after each day of work they have been promised a check within 15 days.