How to Host a Dinner Party to Fight Hunger

As we learned in the Rise Against Childhood Hunger guide in your September 2017 VoiceBox, 15 million of the 47 million Americans who are food insecure are children — that’s one in five kids who don’t get the food they need. This might seem unimaginable, but it is far more common than we may realize. One way we can make a small ripple to help raise awareness around childhood hunger in America is to host a dinner party.

Have you ever noticed the way food has a special way of bringing people together? Some of our most treasured memories are when our family and friends “break bread together.” Celebrations are almost always punctuated with food, conveying the power of communion over a meal to nourish not only our bodies, but our relationships as well.

The idea for this project is simple: Use your Rise Against Childhood Hunger soup bowl as the central theme for a delicious gathering of friends and family to raise awareness around childhood hunger.

The night can be whatever you make it. It can involve just a few friends, or include people in your neighborhood, or if you’d like to make an even bigger impact, consider making it a fundraiser. Perhaps you want to do a lunch or brunch instead. Get creative! There is no wrong way to do it. The only thing that matters is that in doing it, you will be creating awareness and inspiring others.

For details on how to host a dinner party, scroll below the photo. Don’t forget to share your gathering with us with #makearipple. We’ll be regramming and featuring them on our Insta feed!

Thank you so much for joining us in creating awareness around this important issue. Together, we can do something to help solve childhood hunger in America.

Create for change,

The VoiceBox Team

Host a SOUP-ER Supper Event

*Your very first step is to be sure to ask, and consult with, your parents.

Supplies:

• One plain white bowl for each guest (We highly recommend going to your local thrift store to find inexpensive bowls for this project. You can also find plain bowls at many big box stores.)

• Sharpies (or porcelain paint pens)

• Mod Podge: dishwasher-safe gloss (this can be found at most craft supply stores)

Decide:

Consider painting each bowl yourself, making each bowl a surprise take-home gift for each of your guests. Or maybe you’d like to have each of your guests decorate their own bowl, and have a bowl swap. If you decide to have your guests decorate their own bowl, be sure to plan to give them their supplies ahead of time, along with their invitation. To be safe, make sure that you and your guests only paint the outside of the bowls.

Menu: Make your favorite soup, or find a delicious soup recipe online. Another idea is to make it a pot-luck and have each guest bring a pot of their favorite soup. Remember, there is no wrong way to do this! Consider side dishes — maybe a salad, or some crusty bread. What will your guests drink? If you’d prefer to just serve soup, that perfectly fine!

Invitations:

Along with the date, time, location, and RSVP for your event, include details like if it is a pot-luck, or if you’d like for them to paint their own bowls, or maybe you’d like each guest to bring a donation.

Table:

Will your table be set inside at your dining room table? Or outside on a patio table? Be sure each place has a bowl, napkin, spoon, and cup. If you’re serving sides, be sure to include additional flatware and dishes. Consider a set up that will make the night special, like candle light or a string of patio bulbs. Maybe even place cards for each guest. Or a printed menu. Maybe put together a music playlist.

Free Printables:

Here is a free invitation template you can print out for your event.

Here are some free place card, and menu templates.

And here is a curated playlist for your evening.

But most importantly, here are some table topics you can use for your dinner.

Other ideas to consider :

• Ask guests to bring a donation — set a dollar amount, or ask for canned goods, and donate those to your local food bank.

• Host a film screening of A Place at the Table before or after your dinner.

• Read and discuss the classic children’s story, Stone Soup and/or Always Room for One More Discuss how these stories teach the lesson, "if we each give a little, together we can achieve a lot."

• Ask your guests to read (beforehand), The Double Life of Zoe Flynn — by Janet Lee Carey, a story of a little rich girl with a secret — that her family is no longer rich but living in a van. It’s a moving novel about hope, family, friendship, and the true definition of a home.

*Disclosure: none of these links are affiliate links, and VoiceBox does not receive any renumeration for mentioning/linking to them. If you do decide to purchase through Amazon, please consider doing it through AmazonSmile, so that a portion of your sale can benefit Feeding America (or any other charitable organization that you may care about).