Centre Safe’s Twilight Dinner series is back after a hiatus. Here’s what to know

For many years, the Twilight Dinner series has been a signature fundraiser for Centre Safe. However, the dinner series was halted in 2020-2021 due to social distancing concerns, and then took another brief hiatus in 2023. Now, though, Twilight Dinners are back for the 2024 summer.

Last year’s hiatus was an opportunity to reassess the dinner series, Centre Safe executive director Jennifer Pencek said.

“What was amazing to see last year was we had so many calls and messages from people who asked, ‘Are you bringing Twilight back? What happened to Twilight?,’” she said. “What we heard from a lot of people (was) they loved going to Twilight Dinners, they really missed them last year and they want to support us this year and in the years to come.”

The Twilight Dinner series brings together community members for a shared, ticketed meal, with proceeds from the event benefiting Centre Safe. This year, the organization hopes to raise $15,000-$20,000 from the events. Dinners are hosted by community members as well, and format, as well as any theme, is up to individual hosts. Dinners can be private, with hosts choosing their attendees; open to the public; or a combination of both. They can also be held in private homes or in public spaces around Happy Valley — as is the case with the upcoming Twilight Dinner slated for June 20 at RE Farm Café. Hosted by Sara and Tom Songer, the event will celebrate the summer solstice.

Pencek expects it to be a “one-of-a-kind dining experience.”

“Monica and Duke Gastiger are the owners of RE Farm Café and they do a spectacular job with their food,” she said.

“There’s going to be an array of really deliciously creative tapas crafted with foods that have been just harvested from Windswept Farm. ... So just imagine really gorgeous and delicious farm-fresh ingredients being used.”

There will be a cash bar on-site for the event, and attendees can purchase single or multiple tickets, or reserve a table. Single tickets are $125.

“We don’t do a lot of the larger type of (fundraising) events like golf tournaments and 5Ks. We really focus a lot on the Twilight (Dinners) and then some (fundraising) campaigns during the year, so the dinners really do present a wonderful opportunity for people to financially support Centre Safe — but they’re also going to have a wonderful night, whichever dinner they might choose,” added Pencek, noting that this new, 2024 series of Twilight Dinners is the organization’s chance to “really bring (the series) back and bring it back strong.”

All proceeds from the Twilight Dinners go toward Centre Safe’s costs in assisting victims and survivors of sexual and relationship violence, providing them with shelter, legal support, outreach and education programs, and, in general, a community safety net. In 2023, Centre Safe served more than 900 domestic violence clients, including women, children, men and transgender individuals, as well as more than 250 sexual assault clients. Pencek estimates the organization likewise served approximately 200 individuals in need of emergency shelter and housing.

“A hundred percent of the (Twilight Dinner) ticket proceeds come to Centre Safe, so if you’re buying a $125 ticket, you’ve just made a $125 donation to Centre Safe, and that is huge for us…” Pencek said. “You’re not just getting a wonderful dinner, which is amazing, but you’re actually really helping victims and survivors across the county just by going out to dinner.”

Purchase Twilight Dinner tickets at www.centresafe.org/twilight-dinners, or by calling the Centre Safe office at 814-238-7066. You can also call the Centre Safe office to inquire about hosting an upcoming Twilight Dinner event.