Cultivating Belonging

“True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.”

BRENE BROWN

DIGNITY DINNER PARTIES

Healing happens when we gather together and wrap those hurting in our neighborhoods with compassion and belonging. This belief in the power of togetherness is the leading ideal behind our invitation for the community to join us in fulfilling and assembling our Courage Totes. These moments of gathering around the table with friends and family are rewriting redemptive stories for survivors in local communities.  

GATHER WITH PURPOSE

We ask Hosts to coordinate a Dignity Dinner Party with their local network to cultivate belonging in their community and support our Courage Tote donation efforts. Your participation not only helps us meet the practical needs of a survivor in crisis, but creates a more loving, just, and educated community.

HOST FAQ

  • Hosts are responsible for connecting with Nora & Co. to schedule the party, inviting friends and family to participate, communicating with guests what materials to bring, and ensuring that each tote is fully packed. Hosts are also responsible for transporting the finished totes to one of our local storage sites.

  • Nora & Co. provides the Take Courage tote bag, a new t-shirt designed by a survivor along with a hand written note, a pair of shorts, a customized journal and pen, a toiletry bag, carefully curated Spotify playlists, and resource guides to ensure each survivor is immediately connected to a local support system.

  • We rely on hosts and their guests to provide the Fresh Start kit in each Courage Tote, including: underwear, a comfy lounge bra, a comb, deodorant, feminine products, tissues, chapstick, a hair tie, and a pack of gum. Each item should be purchased new.

  • Nope! Although we believe there's something special about a good meal shared with friends around a table, food is an optional component to hosting and is the responsibility of the host and guests to provide if desired.

  • Planning and coordinating the party is the responsibility of the Host. However, in an effort to help set you up for success, our team is pleased to offer Hosts a Dignity Dinner Playbook – a planning guideline that includes a donation item sign-up sheet, suggested themes (if that's your thing!), editable event invitation templates, a suggested timeline, ideas for menu options, and fun conversation starters for the group. We are always available over email for any questions.

  • Anyone! As long as the Host understands and agrees to their responsibilities for the party, we are thrilled to have volunteers from all walks of life contribute to our mission through Dinner Party hosting. This may include your family, your office, your church small group, your book club, etc.

  • Hosts can choose to fulfill and pack either a 12 or 24 tote event. As many of the items guests are responsible for come in packs of 3, 4, 6, or 12, these two options seem to work best.

  • Walmart, Target, Amazon, CVS... almost anywhere you already shop at or run errands to! Our goal for the purchase list for Hosts + guests was to ensure that these items are easily accessible and affordable. We will provide the host with links to some of our favorite items, but note the stores and brands you want to support are your decision.

  • We ask for a minimum of a 6 week notice for any Dignity Dinner Party. This advance notice allows for a kind timeline for our team, for our partners at SAGE screen printing tote bags and t-shirts, and for your guests to prepare for the event.