I recently co-hosted a FEED Supper cooking class with Marcia Smart for some of our friends, and it was a big success and so much fun! We raised over 18,000 meals for FEED Foundation to provide to people in the U.S. who suffer from hunger. Hosting a FEED Supper is the perfect excuse to have a fun dinner party with your girlfriends while also raising money for a wonderful cause. I’m sharing photos from our lunch (courtesy of our friends at Marie Flanigan Interiors) as well as tips for hosting your own — read on below!

Our FEED Supper cooking class lunch was held at Marcia’s beautiful home and the setting could not have been more perfect. Everyone enjoyed learning recipes from Marcia, who is the talented chef behind Smart in the Kitchen, and then of course eating the delicious meal in the company of good friends!

It’s super easy to host your own — just sign up through FEED’s website and invite your friends to join you for a donation-based dinner. How it works is that everyone who attends is encouraged to make a suggested donation prior to the meal, and then the host or co-hosts provide the food, drinks, location etc. You can even purchase a FEED Supper toolkit that comes with adorable menus, place cards, and thank you notes. This is the perfect time of year to give back and to host festive gatherings for friends so why not do both! I’m sharing a few tips for how to make it successful below.

Encourage Collaboration

One of the most fun parts about this event was involving everyone’s creative talents. We had calligraphy details by Kate Stouffer of Linden Page Paperie, florals by local florist MAXIT Flower Design, napkins by local brand MIRTH, cooking classes by Marcia, and tabletop styling by me. Such a fun collaboration that made guests feel like they were contributing to the event in more ways than just a monetary donation. 

Don’t Skimp on the Meal

When people are paying a significant amount of money for a meal, it’s important to make sure it’s super substantial and worth it! Of course people are paying for the charitable cause, not necessarily the food, but you still want everyone to enjoy themselves. Whether you’re a fantastic chef or have a caterer that you love, prioritize a delicious dinner over other hosting expenses, like decor or invitations. It was such a rare treat to get to sit around a table with amazing women for an elaborate, leisurely weekday lunch! 

Provide a Delicious Self Serve Cocktail

When hosting a dinner, chances are you’re running around so it’s nice to not have to play bartender. We set up a self-serve cocktail station where guests could pour delicious “Spagliatos” which means “messed up” or “mistaken” in Italian. Recipe below courtesy of Smart in the Kitchen!

1 oz. sweet vermouth
1 oz. Campari
1 oz. Prosecco
Garnish: orange wheel

Combine vermouth and Campari in an ice-filled glass. Top with sparkling wine, stir to combine and garnish.

Gift a Little Something Extra

When friends take time out of their busy schedule to support a cause that is close to your heart, it’s so nice to have a little token of appreciation. We stuck with the FEED theme and gifted these adorable wine carriers with olive oil in each bag. This gift is also perfect for the holiday season when people are constantly bringing wine to dinner parties! 

Have you hosted a FEED Supper before, or another meal to raise money for charity? We’d love to hear about your personal experiences in the comments below!