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We’re Official! Once Upon A Table, Inc. Is Now a Registered Nonprofit in South Carolina (thanks to all of our donors!)
On October 30, 2025, our Articles of Incorporation were approved by the State of South Carolina, which means Once Upon A Table, Inc. is officially a nonprofit social enterprise!
From the very beginning, this was always the goal: to turn celebration into community care.
Once Upon A Table started by renting thrifted and vintage tableware for weddings and events... but it was never just about pretty plates. Every rental helps fund local mutual aid that supports our neighbors with rides to job interviews, groceries when SNAP runs out, help with healthcare costs, and stability for families facing housing insecurity.
Now that our startup and filing fees are fully covered, every dollar donated here goes directly toward mutual aid in our community.
Our Mission
To build community, reduce waste, and make beautiful events accessible to all by providing sustainable décor and tableware rentals, then using the proceeds to fund local mutual aid programs that meet everyday needs with dignity, creativity, and care.
We believe in equity over charity, empowerment over pity, and sustainability over excess. Our work challenges the systems that make basic needs a privilege and redefines what it means to celebrate, because everyone deserves a seat at the table.
What Your Donation Supports
All donations now go directly toward the following initiatives:
- The Pantry Project — food assistance when resources run low or benefits lapse
- The Ride Fund — transportation to work, job interviews, school, and appointments
- The Care Collective — emergency healthcare and prescription support
- The Hopeful Housing Project — housing stability and emergency aid
Funds will be distributed with dignity, minimal barriers, and full transparency, prioritizing equity, community trust, and shared decision-making.
Transparency Promise
Once Upon A Table, Inc. is a registered nonprofit corporation in South Carolina and is currently pursuing federal 501(c)(3) status.
Receipts, updates, and stories will be shared regularly here and on our social channels, because accountability and honesty are as important to us as compassion and creativity.
Together, we can make celebration a tool for liberation — one plate, one table, one act of care at a time.
Tax-Deductibility Notice:
Please note at this time your donations are not tax-deductible, but we are in the process of filing all paperwork accurately so that they will be!
Important Addendum:
All funds raised between October 28 and November 5 were received and managed by Founder and Executive Director Hannah Smith until the nonprofit’s bank account was opened, which happened on November 12. Every dollar has been transferred to that account and the GoFundMe now goes directly into that nonprofit checking account.
Organizer
