BRISTOL, TN – McAlister's Deli® is thanking guests on Thursday, June 21st with its 10th Annual Free Tea Day. McAlister’s locations across the country are treating guests to a free 32-ounce glass of McAlister's Famous Tea. Guests can choose between iced sweet or unsweet black tea. McAlister’s tea is a labor of love, steeped with Rainforest Alliance Certified™ premium tea leaves and served with its famous red straw.
 
“Free Tea Day is always our favorite day of the year,” said Chris Smith, Co-Owner of Peak Restaurants, which operates McAlister’s Delis in Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee.
 
“And this year’s Free Tea Day, a tradition enjoyed by our guests and team members each year, is even more special,” added Co-Owner Jeff Shawl. “June 21st will be our 10th year celebrating Free Tea Day. We are thrilled to once again share our Famous Sweet Tea and the sense of community that the day brings to both our guests and our team members. It really is a special day and we encourage everyone to come enjoy it with us!”
 
The first 10 adults and 10 kids in line at the restaurant on June 21st will receive, in addition to free tea, a limited edition 2018 Free Tea Day t-shirt.
 
Throughout National Iced Tea Month, fans are also encouraged to submit their cheers-worthy moments with the hashtag #CheersTo10Years. The winner, announced on Free Tea Day, will receive ten years of free McAlister’s tea. For full contest details and to view contest entries, guests can visit McAlistersDeli.com/FreeTeaDay.
 
To learn more about the event, visit your local McAlister’s Facebook page or www.peakrestaurants.com/free-tea-day.

Knoxville, TN (May 18, 2018) — Peak Restaurants participated in Knox County School's Dine Out for Education event last month, donating proceeds from each of Peak's four Knox County McAlister's Delis.

Dine Out for Education is an annual event hosted by Knox County Schools. Participating restaurants donate 10% of the day's sales to the Partners in Education program, which is dedicated to both expanding educational opportunities for students in Knox County and facilitating a deeper understanding of the school system in the community. 

Peak was able to donate more than $2,000 to Partners in Education last month as a result of the event. 

This is the restaurant group's 4th time participating in Dine Out for Education. Since 2015, Peak has donated more than $5,000 to Knox County Schools' Partners in Education program. 

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Learn more about Dine Out for Education here. 
​Learn more about Partners in Education here. 

McAlister's Deli restaurants across the country welcomed guests to nominate the TEAcher in their community they thought deserved to be honored! We are excited to announce the winners chosen from the nominations at each of our restaurants who have been recognized as an Outstanding Educator in each community. Click on their names to see photos of the presentation and read about why they were nominated and won!

• Alcoa, TN: Kristy Noda, Maryville High School
• Blacksburg, VA: Crystal Fentress, Christiansburg Primary School
• Johnson City, TN: Guy McAmis, David Crockett High School
• Kingsport, TN: Kristen Duncan, John Sevier Middle School
• Knoxville, TN (Deane Hill): Melanie Norsworthy, Rocky Hill Elementary
• Knoxville, TN (Fountain City): Sandy Morris, Green Magnet Academy and Roxanne Cabrera, Carter High School
• Knoxville, TN (Schaad Road): Steve Hamer, Apostolic Christian School
• Knoxville, TN (Turkey Creek): Melinda Webster, Farragut Primary School
• Lynchburg, VA: Mildred Crist, Linkhorne Middle School
• Oak Ridge, TN: Katelynn Olvey, Woodland Elementary School and Stacy Moody, Pine View Elementary
• Pigeon Forge, TN : Sherri Breazeale, Pigeon Forge Middle School
• Roanoke, VA: Myra Wasson, Fallon Park Elementary

Kingsport, TN (May 11, 2018) — To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, we asked you, our guests, to nominate educators who have made an impact on you or our local community. Today, we announce our winner at our Kingsport location. Congratulations to Kristen Duncan of John Sevier Middle School, who was chosen as an Outstanding Educator in her community.

"With the help of my mom I wanted to nominate Kristen Duncan," wrote student Emma Kimbler. "Mrs. Duncan makes herself available to her students at all times. She wants not just one student but all to succeed. She is a role model to the community as a dance coach also! Mrs. Duncan makes the adjustments to middle school so much easier and I feel so blessed to have her as my teacher. I hope Mrs. Duncan knows what a difference she has made in my life and what an inspiration she has been to me! Mrs. Duncan is not only an outstanding educator but a role model to young girls just like me."

Lynchburg, VA (May 11, 2018) — To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, we asked you, our guests, to nominate educators who have made an impact on you or our local community. Today, we announce our winner at our Lynchburg location. Congratulations to Ms. Mildred Crist of Linkhorne Middle School, who was chosen as an Outstanding Educator in her community.

"Mrs. Crist continuously goes above and beyond for her students," said nominator Alexis Billings. "She teaches students with autism and severe behavioral problems. ... She recognizes that each day is a new day and continues to work to see her students achieve. She spends countless hours [...] on her students; she buys supplies [...] and strives to make sure [the students] are taken care of. "

​Ms. Crist is awarded a $50 McAlister's gift card and a certificate as well as tea and cookies for her class. Thank you, Ms. Crist, for all you've done for the students in your community. 

We received many amazing nominations, and we want to recognize them all. Here are the Teacher Appreciation nominees in Lynchburg:

• Jessica Putnam, Amherst Elementary School
• Brittany Yeatts, Appomattox Elementary School
• Andrea Crawford, Concord Elementary
• Lisa O'Neal Forest Elementary School
• Maggie Oakes, Gretna High School
• Sheryl Motley, Gretna Middle School
• Stacey Jeffcoat, LCA Early Learning Center
• Deb Ritz, LCA Early Learning Center
• Ashley Bright, Leesville Road Elementary school 
• Cynthia Patterson, Liberty Christian Academy
• Rachel Robert, Linkhorne Middle School
• Della Fuqua, Lyn-CAG Head Start Evening Program
• Tish Lowery, Paul Munro Elementary
• Rhonda Raines, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School