Food brings people together.
That was the case at Pantry & Plate 2026 – in more ways than one.
Not only did guests enjoy a delicious meal, but they also learned about the Grace Care Center mission and how their support provides Central Indiana families with access to critical groceries.
Here’s a look back at this unique culinary fundraiser!
New Event Raises Critical Funds for Grace Care Center
On November 5, 2026, 120 guests joined Grace Care Center at BASH in Carmel, IN for Pantry & Plate, a brand new event.
The evening kicked off with mingling and appetizers before guests took their seats. What followed was an inspirational and exciting evening.
Grace Care Center Foundation President and CEO Cara Augspurger started the event by introducing guests to the Grace Care Center journey. She shared that, like food is what brought many guests to the Pantry & Plate, it’s also what most often brings families to the Care Center.
For many Care Center Friends, visiting the Choice Food Pantry is the first step of their journey. In this grocery-store-style pantry, families find a wide variety of food and household items to choose from using a points-based system. This allows them to “shop” for the groceries that make sense for their families.
And it was this range of choices that was the highlight of Pantry & Plate.
MasterChef contestant Chef Tanorria Askew took the stage for a live cooking demonstration that showcased just how far the options at the Choice Food Pantry can go.
Before the event, Chef Tanorria visited the Pantry to select the ingredients for the dishes she prepared during her cooking demo!
While she cooked, Chef Tanorria also answered questions from the audience. She talked about her experience on MasterChef, her cookbook – Staples + 5 – and offered advice on how to be more confident and creative in the kitchen without breaking the bank.
After Chef Tanorria’s demo, five guests were surprised with the opportunity to serve as “Tasters”. They each went up on stage and tried out the meal Chef Tanorria prepared!
Cara then came back to the stage to share more about the Grace Care Center mission.
She told Craig’s story, sharing how he first walked through our doors looking for food and now has built a stable and independent life for himself and his three children. All thanks to the support he received from the Care Center’s wraparound services.
Cara also talked about how more and more families are turning to the Care Center for help. And asked Pantry & Plate guests to offer their support so that we can be ready for them.
In all, Pantry & Plate raised $50,000!
Every dollar raised will go right to work to provide food, resources, and a supportive community to our neighbors in need.
Thank you to our 120 guests for joining us for the evening, and for offering your support to Central Indiana families.
We are also grateful for our sponsors who helped us make Pantry & Plate a reality. Thank you to the Fromke, Fitzpatrick, Longest, and Marti families, to Tanorria’s Table, and to Mike Chandler Media!
Because of each of you, our first Pantry & Plate was a success. We can’t wait to see you again at our next event!
