Friendsgiving

Join us for our first community Friendsgiving, a celebration of our Building the Rainbow members and each person's cultural heritage. This event will take place at our (Abby and Pat's) house in Danbury, address to be provided upon RSVP.

FOOD: Rather than making traditional Thanksgiving fare, we are asking everyone to bring a dish that is significant to their family, culture, or personal journey in some way. Some examples include:

• Your grandmother's favorite dessert recipe
• A pasta dish you and your partner shared on a first date or anniversary
• A friend's mom's signature curry or soup
• A classic dish from a country you were born, raised, or spent time in
• A regional dish from a state or city you enjoy or grew up in
• A dish you'd eat with family or friends to celebrate a birthday or holiday

While we know not everyone is a world-class cook, we would prefer, if at all possible, for folks to bring something homemade rather than store-bought. If you can't make something at home, we encourage you to patronize a local small business (bakery, family-owned restaurant, farmer's market, etc.) and order a menu item as takeout to share. If you need help finding such an establishment, please DM or message me (Abby).

IMPORTANT: We would like everyone to fill out what they are bringing in this spreadsheet. If you want to bring more item, please enter it on a separate line.

We have plenty of plates, cups, utensils, napkins, cleaning supplies, and places to sit, so no need to bring your own.

CHILDREN: If you have children, you are welcome to bring them to this event in celebration of our community. Please note that we have four cats and, while they are friendly, they are not used to interacting with kids. Proceed accordingly.

ACCESSIBILITY: We have a gently sloped walkway leading to the front door, which has two steps before getting inside. There is a bathroom on the main floor. We will have soft lighting and quiet spaces where you can recalibrate if needed. Please also feel free to bring fidget toys, crochet, earplugs, etc. to help you feel more comfortable.

ANIMALS: My partner and I have four cats. If you are deathly allergic to cats, this is not the event for you. We will vacuum ahead of time but our cats love people and will absolutely be up in your business. Take allergy medication beforehand if you anticipate any issues.

INTRODUCTIONS: Because this is taking place at my home, I would like to meet folks at least once before in person before they attend this event. If you've gone to a Building the Rainbow event before, you're all set! If you haven't, please plan on attending an event before Saturday, 11/15 or reach out to me directly to find a few minutes to connect.

CARPOOLING: Our driveway is a decent size and we have some space for street parking. That being said, we encourage folks to carpool with at least one other person, if at all possible. Please make sure to note in the event questionnaire if you would prefer to be a driver, be a passenger, or ride solo.

SUBSTANCES: As always, this is a substance-free event to support our friends in recovery. Please do not bring alcoholic beverages of any kind or cannabis in any form. Thanks for understanding!

COMMUNICATION: Please make sure you have joined our Discord server and check in with #friendsgiving-november-22 for more details and information.