Connecting Beyond the Table

When Rachel Golding pitched her social enterprise, Dinner on the Table, at ADM’s 2017 Annual Funding Event, she couldn’t have known how many ADM programs it would connect her to in just a few years.

Rachel Golding, founder of ‘Dinner on the Table’ at ADM’s 2019 Annual Funding Event Showcase evening

A meal delivery and corporate catering company, Dinner on the Table prepares home-style meals for busy families. But it’s more than a go-to meal service: proceeds from every meal help provide meals to families made vulnerable by disability.

“My research in disability studies convinced me that household-level support is one of the most meaningful ways to positively impact a family’s well-being,” says Rachel. “Dinner on the Table uses the power of the marketplace to fund a social mission.”

Though Dinner on the Table didn’t receive funding that year, ADM has since partnered with Rachel’s organization to cater over 15 Engage evening sessions. Attendees for the monthly Engage gatherings—which bring together Christian women for professional support, fellowship and hospitality— enjoy a two-course meal as they listen to three female Christian speakers from a variety of fields share about their work. They also learn of Dinner on the Table’s mission, how it’s served 5330 meals overall since they began in 2015, gifting 1550 meals to families living with disability and producing 408 kilos of veggie scraps as compost for a local school’s kitchen garden! 

“All those engaged with The Hub, and the team at ADM, are living examples of working out your faith in ministry outside the church walls. This is perhaps the biggest challenge, and greatest blessing, of all.”

Dinner on the Table has now also catered larger ADM events like the School of Theology, Culture and Public Engagement held each January, as well as the launch of ADM’s Marriage Course, and other special functions.

“Catering for ADM events has given us a platform to talk about our social mission with a larger audience,” says Rachel. “As a result, people have asked us to cater their functions. This has led to invitations to speak at functions we’ve catered. It’s been exciting to see the connections built through each opportunity!”

Because of her visionary work, Rachel was invited to join the 2019 cohort of ADM’s The Hub, which includes Jen Logan, an Australian artist living in London whose projects present theology through art; Bernadette Black, CEO and Founder of Brave Foundation for expecting and parenting teens; and Anna McGahan, an actor and writer with a ministry to Christians in the arts. Each participant in The Hub is matched with a mentor for the year, and meets for quarterly retreats designed to help them flourish personally and professionally as they grow their ventures.

“ADM has brought together carefully curated content and presenters at the top of their fields to support The Hub participants,” Rachel said. “All those engaged with The Hub, and the team at ADM, are living examples of working out your faith in ministry outside the church walls. This is perhaps the biggest challenge, and greatest blessing, of all.”

For more about Dinner on the Table: dinneronthetable.com.au

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