E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSMembers of the organization Dining for Women are raising money for women around the globe each time they get together for dinner. NBC's Kristen Dahlgren reports.
Potlucks have a purpose beyond sharing food for thousands of members of Dining for Women.
"Basically a group of people get together to share a meal and learn about a grassroots non-profit organization," said Marsha Wallace, president and founder of the Greenville, S.C.-based organization that started with 20 women at one dinner about a decade ago and now counts 8,000 members in chapters across 38 states.
The average donation at a monthly potluck is $32, about each woman's "dining out" cost.
"When everybody does that it turns into $42,000," member Cari Class told NBC News.
The money combined from all the chapters goes to a different charity every month to help women and their families, which also empowers the women who give, members say.
They've helped in a wide variety of ways, such as saving girls from sex slavery in Nepal, donating sterile birth kits in Tibet, supporting an embroidery business in Afghanistan and sponsoring a girls school in Kenya.
Dining for Women's website notes that the group gives only to women and girls internationally because 75 percent of the world's 1.3 billion people living in extreme poverty are women and children who live in developing nations. The website also gives information about starting new chapters and how programs are selected to receive donations.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
Leave a Comment:
Then, these ladies turn around and get a guy to pay for another night out complete with dinner and multiple desserts.
what a cynical worldview you have.
hate women much, vince?
you give new meaning to 'moron.'
Vincent Denali
Don't be suprised about his comments, he really hates women. He is proof of what happens when a mom never hugs her son. So now he's bent on getting "revenge" through mean online posts.
ooooo what a rogue!
Vincent is a sad ghoul who haunts all of the boards on MSNBC, bitterly complaining about women. My guess is that his wife/girlfriend/prom date left him, and he is spending the rest of his life blaming them, instead of looking in the mirror.
Vincent Denali: I disagree. Some are single and don't depend on 'getting a guy to pay for another night out...' However, I do disagree with the fact that these ladies do nothing for women and children here in the US. Not everyone is 'doing well' out there. Specifically, in South Carolina which is one of the poorest states that we have. I know Bill Gates, who I admire, also gives millions (and maybe even billions) to places in Africa and Asia, etc. None here in the US. I give to LOCAL food banks and try to help locally and in the US. Charitable giving has seriously waned in the US due to the economic problems. It would seem prudent to give here in the US to help children in schools and at home if possible just to have at least one meal a day. Don't you think?
The women who make up this group are inspiring people. It's a win-win situation. Each one cooks with love, I'm sure which reflects in the total atmosphere of the event and the proceeds go to other women who need assistance. Anyone here who is saying negative things about this has the right, but they are not imbedded with compassion for the plights of all human beings. The women have picked out women and girls because this is the largest abused oppressed society in this modern age. I applaud them for this and hope many more will contribute to an enlightening experience. I love the idea that they go to many charities. Bravo ladies, bravo!
PS, to FB friends, please read this awesome article.
It's so nice to read a story like this. Dining out is one of the many ways that people waste money unnecessarily. Unfortunately, most aren't willing to give this up. It's so refreshing to see people sacrifice their luxuries to help another person have the basics.
Nea Justice
Transformational Life Coach, You Turn Life Coaching
We heard about this about a month ago in our Women's Voices class at the UW I attend, Love what these women are doing but I thought to myself why don't these women start by having these "Dinner Parties" in the inner cities feeding homeless American women because the majority of our homeless women are single mothers and maybe we could feed them and their children, and discuss issues that are a major concern for these at risk families and raising the money to better the lives of them and their children. Otherwise it's an awesome idea and helps fuel the third wave feminist movement.
Why is there always a question of the goodness of what people do? Can't it just be excepted that what these women are doing is good no matter for who?