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In response to the recent executive order closing the door on refugees seeking safety in the U.S., local communities—from businesses to schools to individuals—have stepped up in support of resettlement by volunteering, protesting, and

Placemats, menu, and place cards were handmade especially for the event by the kid chefs.

Photo: Ted Weinstein

fundraising. These efforts show the genuine compassion Americans feel for the plight of refugees, and their authentic desire to empower refugees to get back on their feet. One inspiring example of this is Cooking for a Cause, a creative fundraising event driven by a group of twelve children—ranging from kindergarteners to high schoolers. The program invites members of the local community to monthly multicultural-themed dinners cooked and served by the kids, with all donations supporting a

local nonprofit. Their inaugural dinner took place in March, and the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ was lucky to be the first recipient. The dinner was supervised by Simran Singh and Stacie Dong, co-owners of , the cooking class program that turned these children into young chefs. We asked Stacie a few questions about Cooking for a Cause and the group’s excitement to give back.

• How did you come up with the idea for Cooking for a Cause?

Simran and I run a business called A Little Yumminess, which offers a wide variety of culinary classes to people of all ages. We thought it would be fun for the kids who cook with us on a regular basis to share their love and aptitude for cooking with the local community while fundraising for causes they care about.

• Why is giving back important to you and your students? Why did you decide to support the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ for your first event?

We believe that food and cooking are powerful ways of bringing people together to create community and of allowing people to experience other cultures by trying new things. We see cooking as the perfect way for kids to get directly involved in taking action in important causes, as volunteer projects are often not kid-friendly. The kids were ecstatic to tell their friends and families about the dinner they were hosting, and they were especially excited about supporting the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ because of its role

Kid chefs preparing a meal in support of refugees in the Bay Area.

Photo: Ted Weinstein

in supporting refugee children and their families.

• How did your friends, family, and community respond to your event?

Our community’s response was overwhelmingly positive and supportive. When we first announced the dinner event, tickets completely sold out that same day! So many people expressed interest that we had to create a waitlist of a few dozen people, as our chosen venue had limited space. Many people who weren’t even able to attend the event gave generous donations to the fundraiser. A local grocery-delivery business, , eagerly signed onto the event as a sponsor and

Guests enjoy the menu of salad with Statue of Liberty dressing, chicken skewers, Indian mac and cheese, kosher coleslaw, and apple galette for dessert.

Photo: Ted Weinstein

provided the young chefs with groceries and goody bags.

• Do you have any advice for people who care about a cause but aren’t quite sure what steps they should take to support it?

People often forget that even small actions or donations towards something you are passionate about can make a big difference. A good idea is to band together with others who share your passions and work together to make a bigger impact.

Cooking for a Cause raised over $10,000 for local refugee resettlement - an amazing example of how small actoins can accomplish big things. Interested in hosting your own fundraiser? Visit our DIY page here.