Our world is filled with issues. Some of them affect our communities and others affect our world on a global scale. These are not issues that we can simply ignore. This is why there are programs like Turn the Tables that allows us to host a dinner and openly talk about the big issues that are all around us. The goal is to bring the issues out into the open where they can be discussed and thought about. It is the only way to get them out in the open so that a solution can be found.
Our Major Issues
There are some very big issues going on. They range from environmental issues to political crisis. There are issues that impact our economic stability and then there are also social issues that we deal with in our communities. Every country has their own set of unique problems as well. Children are being impacted by poverty, Africa is dealing with poverty and diseases, many places are dealing with overpopulation, public safety is a thing of the past, and people within the U.S. are homeless and going without food. Each day when we watch the news there is some new information on the potential for war and discrimination. Climate change is also mentioned quite a bit and as we have seen in other countries, our rights to choose our own religion are even being questioned. The time has come when we cannot turn our head to avoid looking at the problems that are there.
Opening Conversations
Not all issues can be solved with ease. Global warming is something that can only be changed with years of effort. Other issues, such as starvation and homelessness within our communities can be dealt with a little easier, but it will still be a challenge that will require everyone to help out some. Providing more jobs for those who need them will be a great first step, but beyond that we must also try to provide more food drives for the hungry and housing for families in need. You can host a dinner party and then work the conversation toward these issues. You can start off by encouraging others to set can foods out beside the road weekly or monthly so that homeless individuals or those who need it can take it without having to visit a homeless shelter. You can work together to set up a church event where once a month or so your church will host a dinner for people in need where they can come get warm food to eat without charge or judgement. Each person there can provide a food item to the feast. After that, you can talk about donations toward turning an old abandoned building into mini-apartments or something for low income or needy families to go, and work toward providing those people with jobs. Even raking a yard for $20 can help someone who has very little to have a chance at survival or warmth for the night.
Change the World
As everyone begins to work together on major issues, more can be done to help others outside of your community. You and your closest friends can make a positive impact that will last well beyond your time here on Earth. It starts with you being willing to put the issues out there, on the table.
When you think about going home, what is the first thing you think of? What about if you could travel back in time to your parent’s or your grandma’s home? For most of us, we tend to think about backing cookies or eating them at grandma’s table. Family dinners, holiday celebrations, and more. Our lives seem to revolve around the kitchen and by default, our table. With so much value placed on a table, why would you want to settle for a boring one? You can have a table with a custom glass-like table finish that will impress all your guests at the next big dinner.
The kitchen is often considered the heart of a home. If this is true, then it is also safe to say that the table is the heart of a kitchen. Tables come in all shapes and sizes. They should be surrounded by comfortable chairs so that family members will embrace the time spent together while there. It should also be a place that when you sit around it, you feel embraced by the memories you have created while there. This can be done easily with a little creative thinking.
Tables are tables. Some may be slightly more decorative than others. One may be a different color than another, but at the heart, they are all the same. Four legs and a tabletop. Why not change your table? Make it something that meets not only your needs but your personality, the family that you created. 
We live in a world that is far from being perfect. There are wars being fought all around us. Crimes being committed multiple times a day. There are families that have no home. Children going to bed hungry. The list of negative things in our world is endless. In some countries, it is hard to know what can make things better for the people who live there. Sometimes you have to figure out how to reduce hunger while also preventing the spread of diseases. Often, it is more than one battle you have to fight.
During the Cold War, the term Third World Countries meant that they were not alliances with the UK or the USA. Today, we think of them as poverty-stricken countries. We see them on television where kids are going hungry. “Third World” refers to countries such as Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Somalia. In these areas, they often see more than a $1,000 yearly in per capita income. They also have a lower than average life expectancy at birth because of diseases and hunger. It is not an easy life for them to live.
If you want to help a third world country, you can contribute food. You have to think about more than providing sustenance, though. Ending starvation becomes a useless effort if you do not also stop the spread of diseases. These diseases include Malaria, Dengue Fever, West Nile, and more. They are diseases that can often be transmitted via mosquitoes. Therefore, you have to spend time working to solve both problems simultaneously. You may be able to set up a food truck or drop in food supplies from above. It does eliminate some of the issues. You can also help out by providing a 
A lot of people lately are talking about the popularity of pop up restaurants. They are temporary restaurants that are also called, “Supper Clubs”. They can pop up in any private home, a former factory, or vacant building. The only thing you have to consider is the location, how easy it will be to set up, and what type of sound system you may need. The rest will be simple, and you will be able to highlight the issues within your community if you want to.
A pop up restaurant is not a new idea. They have been around for a while. You had to know where to find them. These restaurants are very much like food trucks. They are used for a variety of reasons. Someone may open this type of restaurant to show off their culinary skills. This is great to do before becoming a full-time catering company. Individuals who hope to help low-income families enjoy a good meal once in a while can also use them. In short, they bring food, all types of food, to an area for a short time. Pop up restaurants have very little start-up cost. This means you do not have to worry about bankruptcy. Everyone gets what they need from it.
What will you do with your pop up restaurant? Will you provide food for the low income or test the water before opening up your very own restaurant? If you want to have a place that is risk-free to test your skills, it is a great option. You have to give it a try. How far will you go on your adventure? What type of foods will you serve others and how much of a price will you put on each plate? You get to decide. You can even set it up to highlight issues that may be happening within your community. With a pop-up business, anything is possible. You do not even have to set it up as a pop-up restaurant. It can be another type of businesses entirely.
Each day, most of us take food for granted. We have a home full of great things to eat and often cannot find the one thing that we want. This is not the case for every household or every family. There are an estimated 48.8 million Americans who do not have enough food in their homes. Approximately 16 million of that is children who go to bed hungry because there isn’t enough food to eat. If you want to support a local cause, why not start by opening the topic of feeding those who are less fortunate? You could even focus on setting up a mobile kitchen to help those who may not have enough food. All it takes is a little bit of knowledge on mobile kitchen preparations and you can start serving food to entire neighborhoods if you want to.
If you look around your city, you most likely know that there are areas that are well kept and have nice homes. Then there are also those areas of your town that you “don’t venture into once the sun goes down”. You may also easily see that there are places where poverty is definitely a concern. These homes may look nice on the outside, but if you could look inside, you may see empty cupboards and empty freezers because the parents are unable to find reliable income. Their children may go to school in clothes that do not fit them well. They may be skinnier than other kids that are their age. There are signs of hunger in the way that they eat their free school lunches. They may be the families that live in their car or those that have parents who ask for help on the streets. Every large city and most small towns have an area that is considered the “poor district.” Why not try to change it and make your city or your town a better place for all to live?
If you want to help out, you can set up a mobile kitchen or food truck. You will need a truck that has a kitchen already or you may have to gut and build your own kitchen. It will also have to be registered as a food truck, which means that it will need to meet local health regulations. All movable vehicles require insurance. You will also need to have enough cash set aside for supplies and gas. For this reason, many people opt to rent a mobile kitchen rather than purchase one. However, if you choose to build your own, you will want to make sure it has a sink, a stove, a deep fryer, a