A friend told Peggy Smith about Dining for Women about a year and a half ago. So the Newark resident promptly established the organization’s first chapter in Delaware. Today, the First State is home to four such groups with more on the way. The premise of Dining for Women is simple, the results impressive. Smith’s group meets on Sunday evenings once a month for a potluck dinner and to view a video about the organization’s most recent cause. Then participants donate whatever amount they choose. The money is given through the national organization to nonprofits that help women and children in developing countries with health, employment, education and other needs. During its first year, Smith’s group of about a dozen women raised $4,000 for projects in Nepal, India, Kenya and Guatemala. “There’s something that really speaks to women’s passion for helping women and children,” says Smith. “It’s amazing how much impact $30,000 can have in Sri Lanka, or Tanzania, or a small village in Nepal.” Smith, who operates Smith + Associates, lived for three years in Nepal as a Peace Corps volunteer. She plans to spend a couple weeks this month volunteering in Haiti. The national organization is celebrating 10 years this year. There are 400 chapters worldwide that have raised more than $2.3 million. Delaware has two chapters in Newark, one in Wilmington and one in Hockessin, with two more pending. (737-8927, pegsmith302@comcast.net)
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