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My Friendsgiving For No Kid Hungry

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Many thanks to No Kid Hungry for inspiring me to host this Friendsgiving and for sponsoring this post! As always, the thoughts and opinions expressed below are entirely my own.

Hosting around the holidays holds a special place in my heart– there is something so magical in the air, and everyone shows up wanting to have a wonderful, festive time. And Thanksgiving for me is the real kickoff to the winter holiday season. But this year, I wanted to do something special to give back and make my hosting a bit more meaningful– I hosted a Friendsgiving to support No Kid Hungry!

Eva Amurri Martino holds up a sign in the dining room of her connecticut home as part of her Friendsgiving event for No Kid Hungry

Eva Amurri Martino stands next to her fundraising goal at her Friendsgiving event for No Kid Hungry at her connecticut home

Eva Amurri Martino wears an "end hunger or pie trying" No Kid Hungry apron for Friendsgiving at her Connecticut home

An assortment of orange No Kid Hungry swag at the Friendsgiving at Eva Amurri Martino's Connecticut home

No Kid Hungry is an organization I’ve admired and supported for a while. Their simple mission is to eradicate childhood hunger in our country– a heart-wrenching yet very solvable plight affecting us right here at home in the USA. The statistics are so sad: 1 in 6 kids in our country is struggling with hunger today. And that means that almost as many parents are overcome with worry wondering how to get food on the table to provide for their families. I can’t even imagine what a heartbreaking feeling that would be as a parent, and what a huge hurdle that would be for a child. No Kid Hungry is an organization built by problem solvers who are getting out in to communities and removing obstacles that contribute to childhood hunger. They are not only working to implement free breakfasts in schools nationwide, but also after school meals and nutritional education for families struggling with poverty. Helping families learn to provide healthy and nutritious meals for their children on a budget is just as important as providing meals for them! I really love how industrious and solution-oriented No Kid Hungry is, and I was thrilled to partner with them to bring awareness to their new Friendsgiving initiative!

Crisp and modern white, flax, and silver tablescape at Eva Amurri Martino's Friendsgiving, featuring a long eucalyptus garland and white pumpkins

Crisp and modern white, flax, and silver tablescape at Eva Amurri Martino's Friendsgiving, featuring a long eucalyptus garland and white pumpkins

A white pumpkin with a painted silver stem on the Friendsgiving table at Eva Amurri Martino's Connecticut home

Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign invites all to kick-off the holiday season by giving back to kids in need. Friendsgiving for No Kid Hungry encourages holiday hosts to set a seat at the table for the one in six kids in America struggling with hunger by adding a fundraising component to their celebration. You can fundraise at your actual Friendsgiving, and additionally online on your own Friendsgiving fundraising page! Every $1 donated to No Kid Hungry through Friendsgiving connects a child in need to 10 meals. And raising $2500 can help launch a summer meals program through the purchase of vital equipment such as a refrigerator or freezer! Any bit of fundraising truly helps.

Silver candlesticks amidst the foliage at the Friendsgiving at Eva Amurri Martino's Connecticut home

A place setting featuring a guest questionnaire at the Friendsgiving for No Kid Hungry at Eva Amurri Martino's Connecticut home

Eva Amurri Martino opens a bottles of prosecco

By signing up to host, individuals receive access to extensive resources needed to execute a successful Friendsgiving event and inspire others to donate to their fundraiser, including décor templates, fundraising tips, a planning checklist, support from culinary experts, fundraising prizes and more. No Kid Hungry wants to make sure all of the Friendsgiving hosts are supported so that their events can be as helpful as possible to the ultimate goal: feeding hungry kids this holiday season.

Eva Amurri Martino greets guests at the Friendsgiving benefitting No Kid Hungry at her Connecticut home

Guests arrive at the Friendsgiving at Eva Amurri Martino's Connecticut home

Ladies chat at the Friendsgiving for No Kid Hungry hosted by Eva Amurri Martino

Ladies chat at the Friendsgiving for No Kid Hungry hosted by Eva Amurri Martino

ladies hug at Eva Amurri Martino's Friendsgiving benefitting No Kid Hungry

Eva Amurri Martino sits with a cocktail outside on the patio of her Connecticut home

Duck breasts cook on the grill at Eva Amurri Martino's Friendsgiving

For my Friendsgiving, I decided to have a women-only get together that celebrated the power for change that women can inspire when we all get on the same page! I wanted to harness all the entrepreneurial and nurturing energy of the women in my community to help eradicate an issue that is important to all of us: childhood hunger. I had a luncheon at my home on a sunny and crisp Saturday, and honestly it was an absolute blast. I went with a modern and clean white, silver, and green theme, for a fresh take on an autumn vibe. A fresh eight foot Eucalyptus and hydrangea garland lay across the table, and I gave each guest a bundle of fresh poultry herbs tied with velvet ribbon to take home. Silver and white pumpkins tied in the Thanksgiving vibes. After a cocktail on my patio, it was time to sit for lunch and get started. It felt incredible to get together with some of my girlfriends in my community, without our own children (LOL) and focus on the task at hand. I showed them a video and spoke a bit about my involvement with No Kid Hungry and how passionate I feel personally about their message.

Eva Amurri Martino speaks about No Kid Hungry at her Friendsgiving in Connecticut

Guests listen as Eva Amurri Martino speaks about her involvement with No Kid Hungry for Friendsgiving

 

Guests listen as Eva Amurri Martino speaks about her involvement with No Kid Hungry for Friendsgiving

Guests listen as Eva Amurri Martino speaks about her involvement with No Kid Hungry for Friendsgiving

Guests listen as Eva Amurri Martino speaks about her involvement with No Kid Hungry for Friendsgiving

Eva Amurri Martino sits down and pours herself a glass of sparkling water

We sipped on some delicious wine, and feasted on some unbelievably yummy food by Chef Luke Venner of Elm Restaurant in New Canaan. He served Jamon Iberico, spiced nuts, and a trout dip as snacks– and then we moved on to a meal of soup, duck breast with grilled grapes, wild mushrooms, butternut squash, fall salad, and (my fave) potato cakes with shaved truffles. Such a special meal! As we chatted, and plotted on how to get No Kid Hungry’s message out far and wide, my friends filled out little ice breaker questionnaires on their plates– I had quite a few women coming together from different corners of my life and not everyone knew each other. It was so fun to go over them together!

Stages of the Friendsgiving meal cooked by chef Luke Venner at Eva Amurri Martino's home in Connecticut

Stages of the Friendsgiving meal cooked by chef Luke Venner at Eva Amurri Martino's home in Connecticut

Stages of the Friendsgiving meal cooked by chef Luke Venner at Eva Amurri Martino's home in Connecticut

Stages of the Friendsgiving meal cooked by chef Luke Venner at Eva Amurri Martino's home in Connecticut

Stages of the Friendsgiving meal cooked by chef Luke Venner at Eva Amurri Martino's home in Connecticut

Stages of the Friendsgiving meal cooked by chef Luke Venner at Eva Amurri Martino's home in Connecticut

Stages of the Friendsgiving meal cooked by chef Luke Venner at Eva Amurri Martino's home in Connecticut

One question on there was especially important to me to include: “I’m Proudest Of Myself For…” I really wanted all of these amazing women to take a moment to think about and declare their proudest achievements. I think as women we sometimes gloss over the moments in life when we feel the best about ourselves and what we have accomplished, and I want this holiday season to support our efforts and recognize them. I love going in to the end of the year knowing that I’m doing all I can to give back to those in need, and to celebrate that!

guests eat and chat at Eva Amurri Martino's Friendsgiving at her Connecticut home
guests eat and chat at Eva Amurri Martino's Friendsgiving at her Connecticut home

guests eat and chat at Eva Amurri Martino's Friendsgiving at her Connecticut home

guests eat and chat at Eva Amurri Martino's Friendsgiving at her Connecticut home

We had such a lovely time at my Friendsgiving for No Kid Hungry, and I sincerely encourage you to host one also– big or small! You can host a traditional Friendsgiving with couples, a “Girls” celebration like mine, or even turn your weekly playdate meetup or Book Club in to a No Kid Hungry Friendsgiving opportunity!

Please check out my No Kid Hungry Friendsgiving Fundraising page here, and I would be so honored if you decided to even donate $1 to the cause. Please tag me in your #Friendsgiving photos on social media, too, if you decide to host! I would love to see them!

Eva Amurri Martino speaks about No Kid Hungry at her Friendsgiving in Connecticut

 

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Photographs by Carter Fish

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8 Comments

  1. Gemma says:

    A super stylish occasion to raise awareness and donations for such an important cause. Great job. I hope supporting this charity was one of your proud moments : )

    Gemma
    http://www.fadedwindmills.com

    11.02.17 Reply
  2. Caroline says:

    That is one beautiful garland! It would be great for Christmas too.

    Thank you for your support of this cause. I teach low income kids, and sometimes the only meals they get are at school.

    11.02.17 Reply
    • It’s so heartbreaking to me to even think about this issue, and I’m sure you’ve seen it firsthand countless times. Thank you for all you do to support kids who are dealing with this!

      11.06.17 Reply
  3. Ann Marie Coan says:

    I love that you are having a Friendsgiving! I’m on my third for No Kid Hungry and it’s my favorite time of year. I wish my tables could be this elegant though! Simply beautiful and looking delicious!

    11.02.17 Reply
    • Oh wow!!! Thanks for being such a soldier for Childhood Hunger!!!

      xo

      11.06.17 Reply
  4. Donna says:

    What an incredible way to spend the days with friends while doing such an amazingly kind thing for the children who suffer with hunger issues. So kind!!!

    11.16.17 Reply