Upcoming supper club fundraiser for refugee family to feature Guatemalan fare

Roxana’s Supper Club, featuring Guatemalan-style nachos, barbecue chicken and fried broccoli on Sept. 28 in McCandless, is more than a meal.

It’s also a fundraiser to support a new refugee family as they settle into their new home in the United States.

Roxana, a refugee from Guatemala who is here legally, is making some of her country’s popular dishes, thanks to a supper club program ran by THRIVEPittsburgh, a nonprofit that helps refugees settle into their new country.

“(Roxana) agreed to do a supper club because she loves to cook, and she wants to help support her family,” said Pauline Spring, program director of THRIVEPittsburgh.

The event is being held from 5 to 7 p.m. at McKnight Methodist Church, 700 Fox Drive. Tickets are on sale through Sept. 22 at thrivepittsburgh.org.

Roxana came to the United States legally through the federal refugee program in July 2024, along with her husband, Harold, a daughter, 6, and a son, 10.

Many of these former refugees, who are fully documented and came through the U.S. Resettlement Program, arrive to the country with skills and experience, ready to work.

The supper club gives Roxana an extra opportunity to make money for her family. Roxana also will share some of her family’s story during the event, Spring said.

“I can tell you that they came here as refugees for a better future for their two children, for their safety and their opportunity for a stable life and good educational opportunities,” Spring said.

Refugees have to navigate a new culture, language and way of living when they arrive to a new country. Before coming to the United States, Roxana’s husband was a solar panel installer, and she worked in commercial sales.

The primary purpose of the supper club fundraisers is to give the host cook the opportunity to support his or her family by utilizing their cooking skills, per the THRIVE website. The secondary purpose is to give guests the chance to learn more about the former refugee’s culture, country, and story.

Roxana’s Supper Club menu features common dishes from Roxana’s culture, Spring said.

This includes either choice of Guatemalan-style barbecue chicken, or pollo a la barbacoa, a typical street food, or a vegetarian dish of battered fried cauliflower in a light tomato and garlic sauce, sliced avocado, and salsa. This is translated as coliflor envuelto en heuvo con salsa y aguacate.

The meal includes an appetizer, dessert and drink.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for children ages 5 to 17. Children younger than 5 eat free with an adult ticket purchase. Tickets are on sale until Sept. 22 by visiting THRIVEPittsburgh.org.

After food costs, the sales of the tickets will go toward supporting Roxana’s family.

The last supper club was in June to help a family from Afghanistan.

“We hold supper clubs whenever the need arises and when we identify a promising cook,” Spring said.

Seating is limited to 75 participants.

Thrive, a 501(c)3 organization under the umbrella of North Hills Community Baptist Church on Thompson Run Road in Ross, is made up of groups, churches and individuals in the northern region of Pittsburgh. It doesn’t rely on government funding but operates through the generosity of private donors and e-crowdsourcing.

Supporters also can purchase tickets for a raffle, sponsored by one of Thrive’s supporters, for an all-expenses-paid week, not including airfare, at the Ixtapan Hotel and Spas in Mexico.

The drawing will be held Dec. 15. Donation is $30 per ticket or five tickets for $100. All proceeds benefit THRIVEPittsburgh.org.

Tickets can be purchase during the supper club or or by emailing thrive7801@gmail.com.

On the menu

Roxana’s Guatemalan Supper Club Menu will include:

• Appetizer: Nachos con frijoles o gueso (nachos with bean or cheese dip)

• Entrees: Choice of barbecue chicken (pollo a la barbacoa) Guatemalan-style or a vegetarian offering of battered fried cauliflower in a light tomato/garlic sauce with sliced avocado and salsa (coliflor envuelto en heuvo con salsa y aguacate)

• Sides: Rice (arroz) and Guatemalan-style coleslaw (ensalata de repollo)

• Dessert: Rice pudding (arroz con leche)

• Beverages: Limeade, iced tea and coffee