Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has paused SNAP benefits, Mecklenburg County Public Health has partnered with @cltfoodpolicy to provide temporary contingency support through the SNAP Double Bucks Program.
Starting today, Mecklenburg County residents can visit participating farmers markets and present their EBT card at the welcome or SNAP table to receive $50 in SNAP tokens to shop with—free and clear, no registration required.
Markets who have tokens (more at the link in our bio):
🍝 @charlotteregionalfarmersmarket - Saturdays 8 AM - 12:30 PM
🍝 @davidsonfarmersmkt - Saturdays 9 AM -12 PM
🍝 @matthewsfarmersmarket - Saturdays 8 AM -12 PM
🍝 @southendmarketclt - Saturdays 8 AM -1 PM
🍝 @uptownfarmersmarket - Saturdays 8 AM - 12:30 PM
Other food resources:
🍎 @feedingcharlotte - provides hot meals & reduces food waste
🍎 @nourishupclt - food pantry providing groceries
🍎 @thebulbmobilemarkets - non-profit farmers market providing fresh produce
Please pass & share. Access to food is a human right—and we’re all responsible for making sure our neighbors eat. Because this affects us all, whether you realize it or not.
More info here or at the link in our bio: /snapdoublebucks
Exactly one year ago, we hosted our second event Salud in Brooklyn! Time flies. 🤯
Transparently, this past year has moved a little slower than I’ve liked—but that lull gave me time to reflect on what’s next for Dinner for Good. I’ve had some incredibly thoughtful conversations about where this could go, the business of philanthropy, and how to build something like this from the ground up (as a party of 1).
Ironically though, the theme of this year has been collaboration. After our event with Curean Studios in Chicago earlier this year, it became so clear that doing things with others is what will help Dinner for Good grow in the way I’ve always envisioned. That feeling only grew after our drink collab with Eighty Eights in February because it captured exactly what I want this to be: creating something with others who share a similar vision while giving back to our communities. Or honestly, creating something with folks who have never thought about including philanthropic efforts in their biz and how easy (and fun! and meaningful!) it can be.
From day one, the goal has been to make fundraising and supporting important causes feel super easy and like a no-brainer (because to me, it is). And now, I’m excited to share that Dinner for Good is evolving and I feel so clear on where this is going.
It’s no longer just about the dining experiences—it’s a platform, a “world” for impact. Through intentionally curated events, collaborations, and impact-driven menu (and other 😏) items, we’re creating more accessible ways to support causes that matter.
I know I’ve left our newsletter, The Table, hanging but I’ll be diving deeper into this there soon. Subscribe at the link in our bio for more feels in your inbox.
And as always, thanks for being here! 🍝
We’re thrilled to finally share the results from Café Curean from @cureanstudio . Swipe through for more moments from the event and Open Closet. ☕️
We raised $300 to support @blackgirlsbreakbread , a Chicago organization dedicated to advocating for the healthier futures of Black women and girls in the community.
Alongside the monetary donations, you donated 10 large 30-gallon bags filled with clothing to The Drop Spot for our Open Closet. This giveback initiative gave our neighbors the opportunity to choose items they love for the new season. The remaining clothes were donated to Holy Family Ministries Center, a local elementary school in North Lawndale who provides clothing for families of the school.
None of this would have been possible without your support. All of us from Curean Studio, Dinner for Good, Monday Coffee, and Starling by Duo truly appreciate your commitment to making this event a success.
Thanks again for coming together to support a great cause!
Still thinking about last month’s Café Curean event in Chicago with @cureanstudio at @drinkmondaycoffee . ☕️
The turn out and support of both initiatives was incredible to witness and I’m excited to share that we’ve extended the donation collection of $1 for each Cafe Curean drink purchased through the weekend.
Thanks so much to our Chicago community for bringing gently worn and new clothing to The Drop Spot. Your donations will be featured in an Open Closet next weekend for neighbors to “shop” items they need and love.
Floral design: @emthurium
Join us this Saturday at @eightyeightsclt to cheers to #BlackHistoryMonth with The Fitz 🍸
As a reminder, a portion of proceeds from The Fitz will be donated to @theartsempowermentproject of Charlotte, a non-profit org dedicated to providing high quality arts enrichment programs to children combating childhood trauma and socioeconomic challenges.
See you there!
Eighty Eight’s has a $10 cover. This is not an exclusive event for Dinner for Good.
Girl’s night out trying Dinner for Good’s drink, The Fitz, at @eightyeightsclt . 🍸🍓
The Fitz is available until March 6th and 15% of total sales will be donated to @theartsempowermentproject of Charlotte. Grab your friends, or your boo, and head to Eighty Eights this weekend!
#thingstodoincharlotte #eightyeights #dinnerforgood #charlotteeats #girlsnightout
See you soon, Chicago!
When I was writing the business plan for Dinner for Good, I always envisioned offering impact consulting in addition to dining experiences—helping small brands, restaurants, and hospitality groups discover fun, unique ways to give back. That’s why I was thrilled when @cureanstudio brought Dinner for Good on to help with the giveback portion of their launch this weekend in Chicago.
This Friday, they’re popping up at @drinkmondaycoffee ☕️ from 2-7pm, and we’ve collaborated on a special drink menu where proceeds from each drink will benefit the Chicago-based organization @blackgirlsbreakbread .
We also have one more giveback initiative for this launch that I’m excited to share soon! If you’re a small company, restaurant, or group looking for ways to weave charitable giving into your biz, please email us at [email protected] 🍝
We’re excited to bring back our “How to Host Dinner” series with @manouska_jay , the founder of @nousloveclub , a social club that fosters connection and community for lovers and friends. ❤️ After hosting her first event in her cozy Brooklyn apartment, Manouska learned a thing or two about how to approach creating memorable, intimate gatherings that celebrate love.
🍒 Set your goals & intentions. No this isn’t your corporate quarterly planning session, but I think having a vision and an outcome of what you would like for your party, soirée whatever you wanna call, it is super helpful. This will help inform almost everything you do from the guest list, invites, to food and help to bring cohesion to the experience.
🍒 Create variety and opportunities to “choose your own adventure”. Create breathing room to allow guest to engage in the space in a way that feels most comfortable and exciting for them. Whether it’s reserving little corners for quieter conversations, a DIY bar for your mixologist enthusiast, or games that can be played in pairs or groups, allow your guest to enjoy the vibes you’ve thoughtful curated but indulge in activities that excite them most.
🍒 Orchestrate the mood. Whether it’s lighting, florals, drinks, or tunes, the environment really sets the tone for how your guest will feel and interact with the space. Be sure that the physical space has elements that not only bring your vision to life, but allow your guest to tap into the mood you’re trying to orchestrate.
🍒 Assemble your coziest threads. Now this might be the only practical hosting advice I have, but dress comfortably! Being a great host begins with feeling your best. Whatever fab thing you choose to wear make sure it’s something that allows you to move and creates flexibility when transitioning from being the life of the party to the bartender and chef if needed.
🍒 Have fun! I know it’s your party and you can host if you want to, but please make sure you’re also having fun! At some point, you have to release the urge to want to control every aspect of the function and truly be present in what you were able to curate. You did good— enjoy!
Is it too late to say Happy New Year? 👀 I took some much-needed time off to celebrate turning 30 and spent the rest of the year focusing on my community. It was a chance to recharge, reflect, and figure out how I can keep using Dinner for Good as a way to create real change.
This past year and the beginning of this new one has been tough one for so many people—from hurricanes in Western North Carolina to wildfires in Los Angeles. It’s times like these that really show how important it is to help and support one another. I’ve always seen Dinner for Good as a way to bring people together through curated events that give back in meaningful ways. This year, I’m expanding our mission to also offer my expertise to brands that want to step up their community impact and authentically give back.
2024 taught me a lot—about the challenges of event planning, raising money, and the true value of giving in ways that actually make a difference. As I look ahead to 2025, I’m really excited about what’s coming. I’ve been working a ton behind the scenes on a few new initiatives for Dinner for Good that I can’t wait to share with you all soon.
For this year, I’ll for sure be hosting (maybe even co-hosting…) more Dinner for Good experiences, with lower ticket prices to make them more accessible. My goal is to make these events something even more people can be part of—creating joyful moments that also contribute to a greater cause. I can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store and to keep growing this amazing community with all of you. ❤️
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