Did you know that Giving Tuesday is about more than collecting donations and encouraging people to part with their money for good causes? It’s so much more – it’s about fostering the giving spirit, nurturing others and making people feel welcomed. There are many ways to make Giving Tuesday a positive and fulfilling experience, particularly when a little innovation and creativity is applied to the planning, and when people are kept at the heart of it.
Edinburgh-based award-winning catering company Hickory Foods know a thing or two about creative innovation. From weddings to corporate events, they are dedicated to providing top notch hospitality. And, this passion extends beyond making a difference for their clients – they seek out opportunities to make a difference within society through giving back. That’s why in 2022, they were one of the many organisations who campaigned for Giving Tuesday. We’d like to share the story of how they cooked up and served something truly special for their campaign, in the hopes that it inspires you as we approach Giving Tuesday 2023.
The festive period can be a challenging time for many. With a vision of prividing for the community’s elderly and isolated over this period, the Eskmills Venue in Musselburgh opened its doors for the Eskmills Community Lunch, provided by Hickory. For Giving Tuesday, they opened their doors for over 200 residents for an afternoon of entertainment, spreading cheer and bringing people together. Live music and a festive feast were on the agenda, spicing up the dull winter days and giving people something to look forward to.
Over 95% of the food was provided by free of charge from a whole host of generous local suppliers who helped make the magic happen. Raffle prizes were also up for grabs, having been kindly donated by the Hickory team and local companies – Nairn Oatcakes, Usher Hall and the Seabird Centre, to name a few. Community spirit runs high in this corner of the country, and it’s heartwarming to see it in action.
Executive Director at Hickory Brian Galbraith said: “The Eskmills Community Lunch is one of the highlights of the Hickory calendar and we were delighted to welcome everyone back. It’s a joy to give something back to the local community and we can’t wait to do it all over again!”
MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh Colin Beattie said: “It was a pleasure to join the Eskmills Community Lunch with many local organisations. This is truly a great way to bring local groups and organisations together to network in a fun atmosphere. I am pleased that Hickory has been able to resume their annual community lunch again which are hugely appreciated by all who attend. A massive thank you for Hickory for hosting the community lunch and I wish all involved the best going forward.”
The Eskmills Community Lunch goes to show that Giving Tuesday is more than just a day – it can bring people together to form meaningful relationships, unite businesses who want to make a difference, and much more.
Do you have a Giving Tuesday story to share? Get in touch with the team and we’d be happy to shine a spotlight on it.
