Throw a Chari-Tea Party for Your Next Girls Night In

One way to raise awareness (and funds or goods) for your favorite cause is by throwing a flair-filled fete. Who doesn’t love parties? In my first book I touched on this concept and even created a downloadable tool kit to assist readers in bringing this idea to reality. Many good things start small and gain momentum through grassroots efforts. Good old-fashioned tea parties combined with activism can be a powerful and fun tool for change. A ChariTea soiree helps build community and is a great networking experience. Invite five to fifteen people and ask each to bring like-minded friends: Perfect for getting your name out there as the do-gooding “hostess with the mostess.”

Here’s the skinny: Hosting the soiree in your home allows you to create the complete vibe. If that isn’t possible, look around for a cozy local café that has the same ambiance you want to create. Following is the time line for pulling this off seamlessly and tranquilly.

TIMELINE

Four Weeks Before

Determine charity to highlight, and request promotional materials.
Send invites to your fave gal pals and encourage them to bring two to three friends.
Invite a guest speaker from the charity.

One Week Before

Send reminder and directions.
Buy dry goods: drinks, treats, and candles, plus assorted teacups, saucers, and cloth cocktail napkins from your local thrift store.
Purchase goodie bags and their contents: a box of organic fair trade tea, organic fair trade chocolate, scented tea lights, bath treats, promotional materials from charity, tissue paper.

One or Two Days Before

Buy fresh food.
Create a playlist to set the mood (suggested: Madeleine Peyroux or John Coltrane).
Buy flowers.
Put together goodie bags.

1 of 2

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Emma S.

9:09AM PDT on Nov 4, 2011

Any excuse for tea and cake! I'm with Alison on this one - tea needs much hotter water than coffee.

send a green star

Carly P.

7:27PM PDT on Oct 11, 2010

I am thinking about doing this for a birthday party...except I won't have a guest speaker...great idea!

Alison A.

5:23PM PDT on Jul 7, 2010

It seems strange being given instructions for brewing tea! I am English, if I didn't know how to do it properly, I must have had my head in the sand.

I disagree with 'just-boiling point', water must be fully boiled, otherwise the tea doesn't brew properly.

And where is the milk?

Milena K.

1:58PM PDT on Jul 7, 2010

That's great! Thanks

Nicole S.

10:12AM PDT on Jul 5, 2010

What a fantastic idea!

Dana B.

5:36PM PDT on Jul 3, 2010

Thank you, what a great idea