FLIP THE TRADITIONAL PHILANTHROPY MODEL by joining us to HELP PEOPLE LIKE THOSE PICTURED BELOW to RECOVER FROM DISASTERS & BE MORE PREPARED for the future.
Join us in a new “Philanthropic Paradigm” intended to reward you for HELPING SOMEONE AFFECTED BY A NATURAL DISASTER. It is simple:
THOSE IN NEED / THOSE HELPING THOSE IN NEED
Tell us briefly what happened and what it is that you need. If it’s cash to survive and recover, tell us. If its a chainsaw or a generator to use and share and re-gift, tell us. Tell us what you need.
DONORS
Donate $500 DIRECTLY to a person, family, small business or local charity in the affected regions who has been identified to be in need. Or, donate $500 to whomever or whatever you like. Share the reasons why with us and we will share those stories with our community.
Receive ONE seat at RAW LAB for a $500 donation. Receive TWO seats for a $1000 donation. Come and experience RAW LAB on a date that works for both you and RAW LAB between Oct 5 and Jan 1, 2025.
WHY WE ARE DOING THIS?
To put a face and a name on need and help. To BE HUMAN! To create and share HOPE and LOVE and GOOD NEWS!
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene RAW LAB decided this might be a better model than “donating to charity”. RAW LAB is donating 12 seats to an effort to generate at least $6,000 to those in need in 2024. $0 dollars pass through our hands. 100% of your dollars go directly from you to whomever you want to help.
In this model the narrative changes from…
“we gave to an organization that used our dollars somewhere to help someone in an affected area in some way”
…to…
”We gave to “this person, couple, family, small business or small local charity” from “that place” to help them to survive and recover from Helene by “getting their home restored or their business back open.”
…or 1000 other stories.
RAW LAB is donating 100% of the food, wine and effort required to seat and serve those who donate. Our reward is the good deed itself, not a tax deduction or “credit”. It’s just that simple and we think it might be a more direct and efficient way to help friends, neighbors and associates affected by Helene.
THE PEOPLE IN THE PHOTOS ABOVE
These people were all photographed by me, @kevinjoseph, Founder and Owner of RAW LAB, over years of traveling to, visiting with and learning from people who make a living from farming and or harvesting sustainable and responsible seafood. I’ve posted them because these are some of the people we know who are likely severely affected by hurricanes. They are representative of those affected by Helene. Meeting, getting to know and working with some of these Baymen & Baywomen has been my passion, purpose and mission since 2010. They are farmers, fishers & foragers. They are old and young…living and late, white, brown, black…from all over. These are our neighbors, friends and family.
WE SEEK TO HELP & CELEBRATE ANYONE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE HELENE
We encourage our community to help ANYONE that needs it, anywhere. From Asheville, NC to Erwin, TN to Damascus, VA, to Valdosta, GA to Cedar Key, FL. There are no restrictions other than GENUINE NEED. Through our work we have always celebrated people like those in the photos above (and hundreds more like them). These are OUR friends and associates. But you may have different heroes. In this effort we want make it more compelling to do something by rewarding you for your support of ANYONE in need.
We have worked hard to showcase and celebrate the history, culture, cuisine, economy & ecology of those that protect, preserve and restore habitats and fisheries that produce seafood for us to enjoy. We’ve done so in many ways from producing New York Oyster Week (2012-2019), hosting, producing or participating many other events, social media posts, web posts and, of course, celebrating their stories, products and work in our services.
They are the stewards of and we are all the BeneFISHiaries of these habitats and fisheries. Without them we don’t have much of the premium domestic seafood we enjoy. PERIOD! These people are job creators and entrepreneurs. They are Mothers, Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Friends and Associates. People like this are the salt of the earth and the brine of the bay. They are Heroes, to us.
Often they are most seriously affected by hurricanes and their homes and operations are typically located in vulnerable areas on the coast. We’ve made films about them. We’ve bought from them. We’ve served their catches and harvests. Some of you have enjoyed the fruits of their labor.
Again, you do not need to donate to anyone or anything specifically. We leave it up to you. All we ask is that you donate to someone who TRULY NEEDS THE HELP!
