Monday Night Dinners - We Need Your Help!

Hey guys! This is LONG overdue but, as you know, it can be hard to ask for help sometimes. But the truth is - Monday Night Dinners have grown 100x bigger and more beautiful than I could have ever expected and it's just too much for me to run on my own!

 

What are Monday Night Dinners? When all my brothers and sisters were growing up and leaving the house, my mom asked everyone to just come home every Monday night for us to have a simple dinner together - As a way for us all stay close. It was just a time for us all to sit around the table and share in our lives with one another.

 

When I moved to Coeur d' Alene, I didn't know a single person. I really wanted to connect more with the community but I wasn't sure how so I figured I would just start inviting everyone I'd meet to have dinner at my house.

 

The first Monday Night Dinner had 11 people come to it and we've never looked back. We've now had 53 Monday Night Dinners and the last one, we had 150 people come! The only rules? No politics. No business. Nothing divisive. Just genuinely getting to know one another with no agenda at all - Except for us all to stay close to one another as life goes on. It's old fashioned and pure community, in the best sense of the word.

 

I ask everyone to please bring a side dish, a 6-pack of beer or a bottle of wine - That we all put together in the middle of the table to share! I can't feed and provide for 150 people every other Monday so it's a way for us all to pitch in and make sure it's a night to remember.

 

And, since these have gotten so big, we have local music at every single one now too.

 

SO WHY THE GOFUNDME?

 

First of all, 100% of every penny raised on here will go to these Monday Night Dinners. I will post updates on where the money is spent as it is.

 

1. First thing I want to do with the money is to have a guaranteed set amount for the music acts to get. That way, it takes the pressure off everyone needing to bring cash or pitch in. And it also allows me to keep getting bigger music acts to bring in. We will still have a bucket for tips but this is a way for everyone to just come and enjoy.

 

2. We NEED to rent or buy one or two porta potties!

3. We NEED chairs and tables! I want to make sure everyone has a place to sit and enjoy and right now, it's a hodge podge of random items.

 

4. This will help me with the amount of money I have to pay for groceries every week! Even though everyone brings a side dish or beer/wine, I spend between $100-$200 at every Monday Night Dinner for food - Usually for the entrees. It would help me A LOT to have grocery money set aside to help me continue to feed so many people!

 

5. Getting the backyard together, cleaned up and ready. We are going to be building an outdoor kitchen so that we can cook for 150 people right in the backyard and this brings us closer to being able to do that. *If you can volunteer your time to help with this, that is a huge help also!

 

So THANK YOU GUYS for your donations.

 

If you have been to a Monday Night Dinner, you get why they're so special. And during a mental health crisis and the year we all have had, this is a crucial time for so many people to feel loved and a part of our community. I could not do this without all of you so please help pitch in to continue letting me grow this as big as it should be.

 

*Also, if you're not able to support financially, that is completely fine! But please support with your time! I need help with landscaping, building the outdoor kitchen, setting up for the dinners and if you have any chairs/tables to donate or anything else!

 

I'm grateful for each and every one of you - For helping these dinners be what they are today. Love you all.