New London — Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock is a family-owned local landmark already known for its seafood and alluring outdoor seating.

The restaurant and its owners are increasingly gaining a reputation for having a charitable side. It’s been donating 10% of proceeds from each of its Fish Fry Fridays to a variety of local organizations. Recipients of the donations say it's making an impact.

Last week it donated $1,300 to the local nonprofit Whalers Helping Whalers, a group offering weekly food pantries while spending weekends cooking and delivering meals to the masses.

”My mind is totally blown that in the middle of a pandemic, when everyone else is trying to stay above water, they’re going out taking care of people who are taking care of others,” said Thomas “Chef Tomm” Johnson, who runs Whalers Helping Whalers.

The money donated by Captain Scott’s will allow his group of volunteers to serve up to 900 meals to people in need. The benefit was also a good excuse, Johnson said, to get a lobster roll.

Captain Scott’s has been providing checks to worthy causes since February. Recipients of have included The Cactus Jack Foundation, Heavy Hitters USA, New London Police Department, Waterford Youth and Family Services and the New London VFW.

Heavy Hitters, a New London-based nonprofit group whose goal is to provide life skills through athletics, currently runs a flag football league for kids ages 6-16. The money will be used to offset costs for the league.

The organization, in the wake of the shooting death of New London High School senior Ronde Ford, is putting together a scholarship fund for high school teens who may have aged out of youth sports but maybe still need an outlet and mentorship.

Shannon Brenek, Heavy Hitters executive director, said Captain Scott's is a great community partner and she was happy when restaurant co-owners Sue Tierney and Tom Eshenfelder, who are siblings, reached out.

Heavy Hitters was the recipient of $700.

Tierney and Eshenfelder said the idea for a Friday Fish Fry started several years ago and involved the food truck at the New London VFW. Eshenfelder said the VFW was in need of roof repairs and he figured the fish fry would be a way to help boost the fundraising effort.

The event started this year on Feb. 19 and Tierney said so many people came out that it quickly became evident the truck was not enough and the full restaurant operation was needed.

Visitors grateful to get outside are even more excited to hear some of the money is going to worthy causes.

Tierney said the choice of recipients for the donations is likely to change in the future as different needs arise. She called choosing Whalers Helping Whalers a “no-brainer” because of the amount of people in need being reached on a weekly basis.

She said she plans to continue the tradition next year. She and her brother haven’t dismissed the idea of running other fundraisers later in the season.

g.smith@theday.com