GULF SHORES, Ala. — When the Original Oyster House sought out a charitable cause to support this winter, Gulf Shores Elementary School welcomed them with open arms.

Principal Julie Warlick, the school staff, students and parents had already been trailblazing to raise money for a new playground. Once the Original Oyster House came knocking, GSES let them in.

“We’ve been wanting to do something for a while,” Tracy Pierce, marketing director for the restaurant, said. “We decided to do something really big that the community could get behind.”

Pierce said restaurant co-owners Joe Roszkowski and David Dekal decided to support the local school system.

“They’re in the news constantly about money and layoffs; they don’t have enough,” Pierce said.

Now a culmination of good-willed hearts and a hard working school has lead to “Dining for Dolphins.” This Tuesday night, from 4 to 10 p.m., patrons can show their support for the school simply by dining out.

“The more people eat, the more it will bring ticket prices up,” Pierce said.

The higher the ticket price, the higher the donation to GSES.

The Original Oyster House has pledged all of its profits to go toward the efforts for the new playground; they are even covering the cost of food.

Along with the ongoing support from regular customers, the two said they are hoping to bring in $5,000 from Tuesday’s event.

“This is one of many events,” Warlick said.

She explained the school is now at its highest point with the free lunch program, but parents are still working hard to raise money for their kid’s playground. All of the labor will lead to a very needed playground. Currently, the school houses a small play set for kindergarten to second grade students.

Children in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades — that’s more than 400 students — can’t use the set because it is equipped for young children. Warlick has been meeting with a playground specialist to create a grade-A set with an interactive music panel, slides, a rock climbing wall and features that work on balance. Swings were a must-have per request from the sixth graders.

The funds sit at $35,000 raised for the $50,000 playground, so the school is in the homestretch.