This year, mentees and their mentors gathered for our first-ever Friendsgiving—a long-held dream to kick off the holiday season in a spirit of community. Too often, the holidays can stir up difficult feelings for youth with foster care experience, so we wanted to create a space that felt safe, celebratory and full of belonging. Thanks to amazing partnerships with The Save Mart Companies, Sacramento’s farm-to-table, fine dining restaurant Mulvaney’s B&L, and several dedicated volunteers, it was all that and more! This meaningful and fun time together featured an etiquette lesson and a delicious 4-course meal.
From the moment Mentoring Matches arrived, they were welcomed into a warm, mixer-style environment. As they enjoyed catching up and sipping sparkling cider, volunteers passed butternut squash soup shooters and pomegranate caprese skewers.
As Matches mingled, Mulvaney’s Co-owner Bobbin and Hospitality Manager Laurie began a warm and approachable etiquette lesson—sharing practical life skills on navigating social situations, starting conversations, and what to do when you’re unsure where to put a used skewer or cup. They also introduced both open and assigned seating customs, then guided Matches to beautifully set tables thanks to linens and place settings from Mulvaney’s.
The semi-formal 4-course meal flowed seamlessly, with pre-set harvest salads next. As the meal progressed, Bobbin demystified common dining questions (“Which glass is mine?” “What’s all this silverware for?” “Is it OK to reach for the bread?”), offering reassurance and real-world advice. Before entrees were served, Bobbin had shared the necessary tips on what to expect during more formal dining experiences, leaving time for Matches to simply enjoy the rest of the meal and one another’s company. Entrées of rotisserie chicken or a meatless applewood sausage, paired with creamy mashed potatoes and green beans, were then served. Dessert, of course, was pumpkin pie.
One mentee said, “…that was some of the best food I’ve ever had!”
This special gathering was made possible by a grant from Save Mart CARES Foundation. Save Mart store 623 on Kiefer Blvd. also generously provided the ingredients and collaborated with our Program Team to design a menu that was both tasty and easy to prepare.
After dinner, the celebration continued with raffle prizes, casual games of pool, and plenty of laughter and conversation. Watching our youth build genuine friendships with one another is one of the most rewarding parts of our community—and this gathering was full of those moments.
Friendsgiving was a joyful success, and we are excited to make it an annual tradition. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make it a meaningful and memorable experience.
