Vermont-based White Light Foundation, a non-profit built on a common bond of music, community, love, and generosity, in partnership with the band, Twiddle, supports organizations important to the band and the community that supports them. Through fundraising and community initiatives, White Light Foundation assists various charitable organizations and community causes.

In February, the foundation surprised Our Kitchen Table (OKT) with a $1,000 donation, which later grew to a total of $2,500 as part of its 4th Month of Giving, which took place during Black History Month this year. The two initiatives funded included community bail funds and the elimination of food apartheid.

When OKT’s executive director learned of the donation, she replied, “WOW! Thank you for this wonderful news. Out Kitchen Table is truly humbled and appreciative for this generous donation. Thank you for choosing Our Kitchen Table to receive a donation as part of your Month of Giving program.”

The unexpected, unsolicited email shared, “We are honored to support you and excited to share the amazing work you do with our supporters. We will be announcing the gift from our Facebook page along with a few other organizations we are supporting and will tag you and encourage people to check out the amazing work you are doing.”

In addition, White Light Foundation invited the women of OKT to join them for a video community learning session about OKT’s work shared via social media.  

“Our goal [is to] share it with our community and beyond. Our hope is to educate people not only about what you do but to provide context around the important definitions related to the causes we are supporting – like systemic racism and food apartheid,” said Steve Perlah, White Light Foundation president and CEO. “As a predominantly white organization and fan base supporting a white band from Vermont, we have learned that one of the ways we can truly do more is to help provide access to understanding and learning. It is my sincere belief that ignorance and a lack of understanding is what makes terms like white privilege, systemic racism, and food apartheid so emotionally charged.”

In addition to supporting Our Kitchen Table, White Light Foundation provided 2021 Month of Giving funds to the Nashville Community Bail Fund. Tune into the jam that helped raise the funds for causes in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Nashville, Tennessee here.