Dining for Women seeks East County flavor

The organization’s members believe there is room at the table for East County chapters.

By Amanda Sebastiano
| 6:00 a.m. June 17, 2015

Kay Yoder, a Tara resident, co-founded Taking Back Lives â€” an organization that helped fund school, healthcare and other needs in Africa.

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When Kay Yoder traveled to Africa in 2012 for the first time with her daughter, Cassandra, she learned quick lessons. For example, the black cloud that moved toward her as she rode her bicycle outside of a village in Malawi wasn’t a precursor to a thunderstorm; it was a swarm of bugs.

Yoder later saw villagers catching, frying and eating the bugs — a snack she wasn’t willing to try.

Yoder can now laugh about the culture shocks she experienced overseas with local residents who share a passion for travel.

The Tara resident is a member of Dining for Women and has been a member of the Bradenton chapter since 2013. Along with travel, the group discusses women’s issues such as human trafficking and educates its members on organizations that focus on addressing those issues.

Are men allowed at the table?

Although the name suggests otherwise, Dining for Women is open to male participants, too.

Bradenton and Sarasota chapters have a few members who are men and hope to recruit more, Bradenton chapter President Beth Palmer said.

Most male participants join with their wives, like Bill Jothan did.

A travel enthusiast and Sarasota Rotarian, Jothan, who is a member of a Sarasota chapter, joined to support causes he and his wife are passionate about.

The Jothans traveled to Haiti and the Dominican Republic to build medical stations after natural disasters and help construct schools.

“I’ve done a lot of work internationally,” Jothan said. “And Dining for Women is a monthly extension of that volunteer work, something I’m passionate about. This group makes you feel good about your donations and where they’re going.”

Now, Yoder hopes to stretch the group’s reach closer to home. She and other members are considering expanding the Bradenton chapter to also encompass East County by hosting meetings in eastern parts of the county, with the possibility of adding a chapter there.

She will host forums July 15 and Aug. 9 in the Tara community to gauge whether local residents would support the new chapter.

“We’re looking for global-minded people,” Yoder said.

The idea behind Dining for Women launched more than 10 years ago, when group founder Marsha Wallace invited friends over for dinner for her birthday and raised $750 for an international organization.

Instead of buying the hostess a gift, attendees donated to an organization.

Members meet once a month and bring food to share to benefit a featured organization of the month.

Typical donations are $35, or “the cost of a girls’ night out,” Yoder said. Donations directly benefit organizations that empower women.

“If we help women, we’re really helping the whole family,” said Bradenton chapter President Beth Palmer said. “These issues women deal with overseas, aren’t ones we don’t have here. Those problems are just a little more hidden and glamorous in the states.”

For information about Dining for Women, visit diningforwomen.org. For times and locations of the forum in the Tara community, email [email protected].