Karl Schatz and Margaret Hathaway, owners of Ten Apple Farm in Gray where they offer year-round group hikes with goats, are branching out into the nonprofit world.
Through an initiative called Community Plate, the couple is hosting free potluck suppers across the state where participants are asked to bring a dish and a story to go with it.
Every evening has a theme, and story prompts are provided to encourage conversation that goes beyond small talk.
At the end of each meal, practiced storytellers perform or read stories they’ve prepared on the theme of the night. Later on, recipes and stories are assembled into a cookbook that’s distributed to attendees.
“The mission is really to foster human connection through sharing food and sharing stories,” and a way to address the loneliness epidemic brought to light during the pandemic, Schatz told Mainebiz in a phone interview.
“It’s a way to remind people of how communities came together and how people communicated with each other before it all happened on social media,” he added.
Community Plate, newly registered as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is working under the fiscal sponsorship of the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance for purposes of writing grants and receiving donations.
‘Serendipity of community’
Community Plate is off to a busy start, organizing 27 suppers so far in 11 Maine counties. Venues range from church basements to libraries and community centers.
“You never know who’s going to come, what stories you’ll hear, what dishes you’ll try, what connections you’ll make,” Schatz said. “It’s that serendipity of community that can be really powerful and remind you of the greater forces at work in our lives that can bring us together.”
Upcoming suppers are scheduled for Feb. 13 in Lewiston; Feb. 27 at Mechanics’ Hall in Portland; March 9 in Norway, a March 14 Pi(e) Day celebration and fundraiser at Wolfe’s Neck Center in Freeport; and March 22 in North Yarmouth.
To keep the gatherings eco-friendly and waste to a minimum, the couple brings along a “traveling dinner kit” of mismatched china, silverware and other settings so that no plastic or paper is used.
“Every time we do a supper it’s a little bit different and we learn something new,” Schatz said.
To support the community suppers, the couple is looking at other for-profit revenue streams, including organizing storytelling-focused meals for organizations and businesses. They are also seeking business sponsorships for the suppers.
Pleased that the community gatherings have inspired some attendees to host their own potlucks, Schatz hopes there will be more to come.
“We are hoping to be a catalyst for these types of events,” he said.
More information
Find out about upcoming events here.
