The regular Monday night staff at Pizza Inn will be sitting out a shift as Literacy Volunteers of Beaufort County board members try their hands at waiting tables.

From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., patrons will be greeted at the Washington restaurant’s door by one of the volunteers. The diners’ preference will be asked: sit in the enclosed patio section to support Literacy Volunteers, or not.

According to Chloe Hudson, secretary for the group, most diners say yes. What it means to the organization is 10 percent of each party’s bill, along with tips for the cause, all of which will be used for operating costs and to buy materials for literacy tutors and their students.

Monday night’s servers will include Hudson, along with board members Angela Silverthorne, Chris Smith, Mark Smith, Virginia Jenks and Dianne Lee. While Hudson’s day job is unit manager of Washington’s vocational rehabilitation office — a Department of Health and Human Services division designed to help individuals with disabilities reach employment goals — she learned the service industry ropes waiting tables in college.

“You know, I did,” she laughed. “I worked in a little Italian restaurant. For about two years — I made good money.”

Hudson said “good money” on a night serving drinks and busing tables at Pizza Inn, which the organization does once a year, is about $500. The fundraiser is one of many for Literacy Volunteers, an organization that got its start in 2001 with a core group of former educators who were looking for ways to help the educationally underserved of Beaufort County. Well established 12 years later, the local volunteers are now helping the Martin County chapter get up and running.

Literacy Volunteers of Beaufort County is always seeking more volunteers to pair with students, Hudson said. For more information about Literacy Volunteers call 252-974-1812. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Pizza Inn is located on U.S. Highway 17 North in Washington.