About Us
The Big Idea
Major Donors-World Class Chef's to "Take Away" Joints
Major Donors-World Class Chef's to "Take Away" Joints
--James Beard, “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” – James Beard
I was hoping you could take a minute to think about the human experience of eating food and sharing our lives with one another. . Restaurants are places made for experiences. Experiences make memories and shape the context of our lives. Those who are fina
--James Beard, “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” – James Beard
I was hoping you could take a minute to think about the human experience of eating food and sharing our lives with one another. . Restaurants are places made for experiences. Experiences make memories and shape the context of our lives. Those who are financially unfortunate lack these experience as they struggle just to survive. Children of these families often grow up underexposed to a world beyond these struggles. A simple dinner outing at a restaurant can deliver delight, and the belief in the power of possibility.
The purpose of the project is for mothers, fathers, and children to be treated to meals and memories that they wouldn’t normally have in their lives.
The Sharing Chef's Table works directly with Urban College, in Boston, The YMCA of Greater New York and The Opportunity Alliance, in Maine to arrange for complimentary dinners at restaurants for those who need it most. We want those struggling with necessity to have a taste of something extraordinary.
Restaurants donate gift certificates and can stipulate -whether its for families or just couples with any exclusions and date restrictions. We usually ask donors for a commitment of one meal every season, but we would love any contribution you might be willing to give to create memories around the table.
Please email benbostdorf@comcast.net for details. The Chef's Table has found such success in New England it is now expanding nationally.
It has already been written up in major magazines and papers such as this article in the Boston Globe:
Major Donors-World Class Chef's to "Take Away" Joints
Major Donors-World Class Chef's to "Take Away" Joints
Major Donors-World Class Chef's to "Take Away" Joints
BOSTON:
ERBALUCE—voted #1 by improper Bostonian for Italian food
NEW YORK:
RAYMI
MAINE:
ST JOSEPHS COLLEGE (60 dining experiences a year)
SILLYS
AURORA PROVISIONS
Hunger
Major Donors-World Class Chef's to "Take Away" Joints
Hunger
Estimates say five to ten percent of restaurant food will end up in the trash. If all food wasted could be salvaged it would amount to almost half of the food actually consumed in the U.S. each year. In dollars, this waste amounts to $165 billion enough to feed the twenty percent of Americans hardly able to eat.
Please email benbostd
Estimates say five to ten percent of restaurant food will end up in the trash. If all food wasted could be salvaged it would amount to almost half of the food actually consumed in the U.S. each year. In dollars, this waste amounts to $165 billion enough to feed the twenty percent of Americans hardly able to eat.
Please email benbostdorf@comcast.net for details. The Chef's Table has found such success in New England it is now expanding nationally
It has already been written up in major magazines and papers such as this article in the Boston Globe:
DONATE
This is a labor of love but there are costs such as this website, our pending newsletter, and monthly out of pocket expenses. A small contribution will help us continue our effort.
Our Partners
THE OPPORTUNITY ALLIANCE OF MAINE
The Opportunity Alliance works with people to build better lives and stronger communities. We provide advocacy, leadership, and support to identify the goals and address the needs of individuals, families, and communities.
The Opportunity Alliance envisions contributing meaningfully to a community in which families and individuals are thriving and supported as they pursue their aspirations for a better life. Within The Opportunity Alliance, there is a shared belief that positive change is possible.
For 50 years, The Opportunity Alliance has provided advocacy, leadership, and support to help individuals, families, and communities identify goals and address their needs. Our programming includes:
- Family and Community Supports
- Children and Youth Mental Health Services
- Adult Mental Health Services
- Crisis Intervention and Prevention
- Early Childhood Education
- Community Initiatives
We are the Community Action Agency for Cumberland County, Maine. We work diligently to keep families intact, in stable homes, and integrated into a neighborhood community where all members can thrive and pursue their aspirations. We believe that the pathway to healthier individuals and families is created through an integrated continuum of formal and informal supports that addresses the fundamental factors that place communities at risk, such as poverty, mental illness, high rates of substance abuse, and child neglect and abuse. That's why, as much as possible, we work in partnership with residents to identify and address barriers to a strong community fabric and place a particularly high value on services that empower families and individuals to connect with natural supports and resources within their communities. To that end, we have developed working partnerships with a broad range of people, organizations, and community institutions including schools, faith communities, law enforcement, businesses, social services agencies and other non-profits.
The Chef's Table in conjunction with The Opportunity Alliance of Maine provides 60 meals a year to children and families
URBAN COLLEGE OF BOSTON
Urban College of Boston exists to provide opportunity to every student seeking a college degree or professional advancement. The College supports students as they overcome economic, social, and language barriers to achieve academic, personal or professional aspirations. Vision: Urban College of Boston will be an empowering institution, providing every student full access to the resources and support they need to succeed personally, academically and professionally. We will enrich the communities and neighborhoods of metropolitan Boston through our unique, rigorous and compassionate education that goes beyond the classroom and meets our diverse students in the context of their lives. Values: Urban College of Boston believes that the most lasting way to empower people is through education. We will leverage every resource at our disposal to ensure that our students not only have access to a college education but also have the social, economic, interpersonal and academic support they need to be successful. We will impact communities by empowering leaders and parents, who build up their families, neighborhoods and work places. We will emulate the perseverance and fortitude exemplified by our students in our own conduct as we partner with them to transform lives and communities through the power of education.
Testamonials:
The collaboration the Student Services Office at Urban College of Boston with the Chef's Table has helped us to create more meaningful experiences for our students. We were referred to the Chef's Table by Susan Kooperstain, former Director of External Affairs and Action for Boston Community Development in August 2013. For the past four years, families have enjoyed invitations and gift cards to first class restaurants in the Greater Boston area. Students are selected via raffles, during student events at the college, such as Mother's Day, Graduation, and Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations. Ben Bostdorf, Chef's Table Director, makes these opportunities not only very special for the students, but for the staff at the college - he takes care of all administrative coordination with the restaurants. There have been times in which students may experience a very difficult and traumatic experience in their lives, such as becoming homeless, a major illness and losing their employment. The Chef's Table provides a positive experience for students to have a special dinner with families, experience a canoe outing at the Charles River, Swan Boat tours at the Boston Commons, or a glass blowing class. Being treated with respect, dignity, and making these connections have been important for UCB and its engagement with students. We are very grateful to the Chef's Table for helping UCB have additional non-academic extra-curricular activities for our students.
"It was nice to go to dinner with my son after graduation and enjoy a free and great restaurant. We would not be able to do this without the Chef's Table invitation. Thank you so much."
"My life is always about work, home, work, and taking care of my family at home. It was so nice to be invited to a great restaurant and have my family with me without having to worry expenses - thank you so much."
"Yes the dinner was amazing! Thank you again!"
CHILDREN"S AID (NEW YORK)
Children’s Aid helps children in poverty to succeed and thrive. They do this by providing comprehensive supports to children, youth, and their families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods.
Children’s Aid believes all kids have limitless potential. But for those growing up surrounded by poverty, family instability, and physical or emotional stress, life is too often about survival, not possibility. It’s unacceptable that in New York, a city of historic opportunity, so many of our children face serious barriers to realizing their own promise.
Children’s Aid is a professional powerhouse of solutions for young people. They are teachers and social workers, coaches and health care providers. Children’s Aid knows what it takes to ensure children grow up strong and healthy, and ready to thrive in school and life: excellent education and health care, social-emotional support, and strong, stable families.
LINKS TO OUR PREMIER DONORS WEBSITES:
The Brindle Room, New York
Bingas Stadium, Portland Maine
THROUGHWAYS
WE HELP OTHERS SEE THEIR WAY THROUGH
WHAT GIVING A VISIT CAN MEAN...
We go on vacation to relax, indulge, and see unfamiliar places and people. It is a time to reflect outside the lives we have back home.
For some, there is no home to come back to— and reflections are those of how to survive. People in these places call home where they are often lost, perhaps disoriented without transportation to find people who can help, perhaps just needing a cheap meal.
Give a visit is inspired and run by an entrepreneur in The United States who operates a charitable initiative to help people who are struggling.
While vacationing he saw tremendous need amidst his nights out dining ad days of adventurous excursions. He felt he should ‘give a visit,’ take a look off the tourist rack and help others unseen amidst the landmarks.
This is why there is a donation button at the bottom of this page where you can offer a bit of support for the wonderful place you are. It is a way to give back and help others where you are visiting.
SImply specify on your pay pal donation which country you would like your donation made to and we will send you confirmation and tax deduction documents upon request.
SUSAN GAYTON--PHILANTHROPIST OF MANY CAUSES
Donating to The Chef's Table and Throughways makes my heart feel good. It’s the culmination of years spent helping people in recovery develop goals. We all need to believe that we matter, and I gave people hope with my own story of recovery.
When my Father was dying, I promised him that I would continue to help people in my retirement. Throughways is an opportunity to encourage the building of community by exposing individuals to new experiences, which in turn broaden the aspirations of everyone. As a mentor for others with my lived experience I’m willing to share my resources and wisdom. I’m helping people reach for their dreams one person at a time.
--Susan Gayton
DEVON FOWLER
Devon Fowler is a graduate of Skidmore University He is interested in American studies and communication. He carries a diagnosis of schizophrenia, yet through his struggle he transmutes it into a love that is the foundation of why we should help others with our efforts. He wishes to help throughways because he believes that an organizations dedicated to help disenfranchised people financially, and with mental health challenges, is needed because not enough is being done by those who help, or in the approach they use to make things better.
