When natural disasters strike, they can be terrifying events for a community. But it’s always good to see the positive side of things. With the recent flooding from Hurricane Matthew in North Carolina, the Sunday Supper held in downtown Raleigh on November 13th was a perfect example. A fundraiser held around the theme “Fight the floods with a fork”, I certainly was ready to help and eat! And I was pretty amazed at the whole event from start to finish, kudos to the wonderful volunteer team who pulled off this inspiring event for North Carolinians.
Heading down on Hargett Street, I checked into Sunday Supper and received a wristband and tickets for the meal. Everyone was in great spirits on a crisp and sunny fall morning in Raleigh! A large volunteer group from the Holy Trinity Anglican church was out in force in support. As I headed towards Fayetteville Street, the crowd starts to thicken and I look down the street in awe. The Sunday Supper team has laid out four very long community tables heading north to the state capital and south towards Progress Energy center. Autumn place settings sit on the table every 5 or so seats and it’s a wonderful visual snapshot for my memories. I’ve done many events on Fayetteville Street over the years but this was one of the most impressive scenes!
Heading towards the southern end of Sunday Supper, the Raleigh Fire Department anchored the south end of Sunday Supper and had one of their hook and ladder trucks at the scene. A huge American flag swung overhead, sporting our country’s colors against the bright blue sky. The NC State Capital building in the background just made for an inspiring view and reminder of this great country and state we live in. And after a particularly difficult and divisive election campaign season, an important reminder of who we are as a people.
With gospel music wafting from the stage, the large group at hand (1,000 tickets were sold for Sunday Supper) was seated at the long dining tables. We managed to find some friends at the table and enjoyed some conversation and Big Boss beer before supper started. Soon enough we are called to the food tables. Young volunteers are serving up a traditional NC barbeque plate complete with Brunswick stew and corn bread, yum!
And back at the stage, Pam Saulsby and Brian Etheridge are hosting and acting as emcees for the Sunday Supper. As the national anthem queues up, the crowd stands and then a blessing is said before we partake in our special meal. We all clasp hands around this very long table for the community blessing and then, supper is on! Thanks to 18 Seaboard, Q Shack, Smithfield Chicken n Bar-B-Q, lucettegrace, Zoe’s and other vendors for providing us with this lovely plate!
After supper, dessert plates are passed around with cupcakes, tarts, baklava and more. A very sweet touch for the end of a lovely afternoon for a great cause. Coming five days after our general election, I can say that personally, the Sunday Supper was a welcome reprieve from all the tough news and election negativity I absorbed over the previous months. It’s important for us to all understand that no matter what our differences, we’re all on the same team in a great state within an amazing country. And there’s still no end to what we can accomplish if we can work together. The Sunday Supper was a perfect example of a community coming together to support those impacted by Hurricane Matthew in early October. And the Sunday Supper team did an amazing job in one month to pull off this event. So thanks so much for providing the Triangle community this nourishment, it was much needed and much appreciated…
Sunday Supper NC