Women enact worldwide change by dining in
As I walked into the kitchen of this week's cause, the casual conversation and murmur of women united by a common cause — or several, actually — drew me in.
Dish after dish came into the gathering area. Some, such as the delicious kale salad, were less daring for the casual diner than others. Some, such as the chicken stew with bananas, came with a disclaimer by their chef.
"I don't know guys," one woman laughed. "Give it a whirl."
For the record, it was delicious.
The Ugandan-inspired dish represented Dining for Women's September Cause, The Nyaka Aids Orphans Project. Dining for Women has 428 giving circles across America and a handful in the Fort Collins area, including the chapter I attended on Tuesday, Sept. 2. All circles are united by nationally sponsored causes each month and donate to fulfill the organization's philanthropic goals for each global cause.
Though we typically focus more on local causes you can support through philanthropy and volunteerism in this section, this week's Causes is a great way for the globally minded among you to connect with others locally, but inspire change throughout the world.
Women contribute meals for a potluck a few times a year (sometimes more) and donate what they would have spent on a night dining out to each month's sponsored cause. In September, Dining for Women committed $45,000 to Nyaka. Any additional funds raised will go to a secondary cause, Inmed's Healthy Babies program in Peru.
The dinners raise around $100,000 a month nationwide. local chapter I attended has donated more than $4,000 since starting in 2012 and has around 17 registered members. Some circles meet once a month. The chapter I attended meets four times a year.
Linda Mahan, who helped found the chapter I attended, said Dining for Women is a great way to learn about and help humanitarian efforts in other countries. Mahan has done volunteer work to help women in Nepal and said international experience, while not a prerequisite for Dining for Women membership, tends to be a common theme among members.
"It attracts women who are smart and thoughtful about how they contribute," she said. "And they are compassionate in acting to save and improve the lives of those less fortunate... We know small donations can make a big difference when given globally."
Mahan believes that supporting women is the best way to enact change.
"As we learn about the challenges women face around the world, and the creative and resourceful ways nonprofits organize to educate and empower women, we take hope that the oppression of women is lessening and economic opportunities will improve," Mahan said.
Sarah Jane Kyle is the Coloradoan reporter covering volunteerism, nonprofits and philanthropy. Follow her on Twitter @sarahjanekyle or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/reportersarahjane.
Join the movement
Learn more about Dining for Women and how to start your own chapter at http://diningforwomen.org.